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IPA launches 7th annual youth essay competition
The submission deadline is July 1, with winners to be notified in early Sept. 2026.
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Anushka Pathak - Wed, 25, Mar 2026
- 15:35 EDT
- 37
Poster for India Philanthropy Alliance’s (IPA) Youth Essay Competition / Courtesy: IPA
The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) announced its 7th annual Youth Essay Competition inviting students to address pressing challenges facing India.
The U.S.-based coalition of nonprofit organizations said the 2026 competition, themed #YouthWithPurpose, aims to encourage middle and high school students to engage with global issues through research, critical thinking, and writing.
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Launched in 2020, the competition provides a platform for young participants to explore key issues affecting India and propose solutions based on research and lived experience. Students are required to identify challenges and develop essays outlining potential responses.
Alex Counts, executive director, IPA, said the initiative highlights the role of young people in addressing complex social problems. “We believe that young people bring fresh perspectives to complex social challenges and can inspire innovative solutions,” Counts said.
“This competition reinforces that students have the power to shape India’s future through creative ideas and a commitment to making a difference.”
Entries will be evaluated in separate middle school and high school categories by a panel of nonprofit professionals. Around 10 selected essays will be published on the organization’s website, providing students with broader visibility and engagement with nonprofit networks.
Winners in each category will present their ideas at a national gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit executives in the fall. They will also direct a US $1,000 grant to a charitable organization of their choice, while runners-up will allocate a $500 grant and have their work promoted through the platform’s digital channels.
The submission deadline is July 1, with winners to be notified in early Sept. 2026. Selected participants will be invited to speak at a philanthropy conference in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 29, with travel and accommodation provided for two winners.
Neha Gupta, executive director, Teach for India U.S. and sponsor of the Youth Essay Competition, said the initiative creates space for young voices in philanthropy and civic leadership. “At Teach for India U.S., we witness daily how powerful it is to empower young people to change the world.”
“We need to listen more intentionally to our children—to learn from their ideas, their hopes, and their sense of possibility, which is exactly the opportunity afforded by the Youth Essay Competition. Supporting this platform not only amplifies the voices of these brilliant young minds but also introduces them early to the spirit of philanthropy and civic leadership. Ingredients critical for building a better future for all of us,” she added.
The Youth Essay Competition is sponsored by the Sehgal Foundation, Ujala Foundation, Mamta Bhandari, and the Gupta Giving Fund.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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