The AKAYA Foundation, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of young girls and women to ensure they reach their full potential, is thrilled to announce the opening of applications for its writing project and contest, aimed at providing a platform for young female wordsmiths to showcase their talent and creativity. The project, titled “The Empowered Inkwell” invites young females to submit their original stories (fiction and non-fiction) and poems on the theme “Identity and Self Discovery” for a chance to be rewarded and have their work published in an anthology.
The Empowered Inkwell is open to all young female writers between the ages of 13-19. This initiative aims to encourage and inspire young girls and women to explore the intricate tapestry of their unique identities and express themselves through the power of words, fostering their literary skills and nurturing their creative voices. By providing a platform for these talented females, AKAYA hopes to empower and amplify their voices in the literary world.
AKAYA believes in the power of storytelling and the importance of providing such an opportunity which is a catalyst for change. This opportunity is a platform that aspires to uplift the next generation of young females with specific objectives of fostering confidence and self-expression, nurturing talent, and creativity, amplifying diverse voices and inspiring leadership.
To participate in the Empowered Inkwell contest, young female writers are invited to submit their work by 7th March 2024. Submissions can be in any genre (fiction, non-fiction, or poetry), allowing participants to explore their creativity freely but must adhere to the theme “Identity and Self Discovery”. A maximum of 1000 words excluding the title is the proposed word count and details such as name, contact information, email address or any other form of identification must not be on the entry which must be submitted by completion and uploading on the Google form provided. A panel of esteemed judges, including renowned authors and literary professionals, will carefully review the entries by the judging criteria and select the most exceptional pieces for publication.
The winners will be announced at the AKAYA’s upcoming event and selected entries will be compiled into a captivating anthology in April in commemoration of World Book Day. The event will serve as a platform to honour the talented young writers and celebrate their achievements while bringing together influential figures from the literary world, community leaders, and supporters of AKAYA’s mission.
In addition to having their work published, the winners of the Empowered Inkwell contest will receive amazing rewards of varying prize categories which aim to recognize their exceptional talents and provide them with further encouragement to pursue their passion for writing.
AKAYA invites all young females to seize this incredible opportunity to showcase their creativity and make their voices heard.
Submissions for the Empowered Inkwell contest can be sent to the Google form via https://forms.gle/JXGmPkQ45R1XmK6K6 by 7th March 2024.
Detailed guidelines and further information can be found here:https://bit.ly/42h2T48https://bit.ly/42h2T48
Good Luck!
AKAYA is a non-profit organisation focusing on the personal and professional development of the next generation of African female leaders by building their confidence, centering their voices, and ensuring they reach their full potential.
For inquiries, please contact us via: info@akayafoundation.com.
