Making A Sustainable Difference
Feeling inspired? You could win some extra cash this holiday season for a good cause. The free S!YNERGY competition hosted by Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) is open nationwide to all Unificationists in the U.S. under age 40.
“This competition is a platform for young people to share their peace projects and ideas in a professional capacity,” said Naria Gaarder, YSP national program coordinator.
This year’s virtual competition means presenting fresh, bold ideas live online. The 2020 theme, ‘The Role of Youth in Resolving Conflicts and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals,’ centers on world peace through the ideals of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universal values. Presentations must support at least one of the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will be judged on inspiration, content, and delivery.
“The content should be a proposal of a project or idea to create peace and a better society,” said Gaarder. “Presenters submit a recorded video of their presentation that is four minutes or less, and the top presentations will be chosen by a committee and presented to a panel of judges. The selected finalists will then present live online.”
The first place winner will receive $500, while second and third place winners receive $300 and $200 respectively. The winners then advance to the regional competition online in January 2021 for the chance to win the top prize of $1,000. From there, the top regional presenter will compete online in February at the international level.
“The S!YNERGY competition was first initiated in Japan, so it’s really incredible to see how it has taken off in countries around the world,” said Gaarder.
This year also marks the addition of YSP’s Youth Heroes’ Award, given to a civic-minded Unificationist under age 40 who has contributed to solving social problems; promoted activities to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals; or achieved some substantial results through service.
The deadline to submit a recorded presentation for the S!NERGY competition, and nominate a candidate for the Youth Heroes’ Award, is December 19 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The live S!NERGY competition on Facebook will be held December 26 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
For more information on the S!YNERGY competition, including submission rules, click here. To nominate a candidate for the Youth Heroes’ Award, click here.
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