Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) Children and Youth Challenge 2023 [Virtual; Certificates & Attractive Prizes]: Submit Entries by August 31

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Online applications are invited for the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) Children and Youth Challenge 2023. The last date for submission of entries is August 31, 2023.

About the Challenge

Everybody needs energy. But did you know most of the energy used harms the environment and will be used up in the next 50 years? Join the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET): Children and Youth Challenge to make the world a cleaner, better place for everyone!

By the year 2030, the Commonwealth want to make sure everyone has affordable, reliable, clean and sustainable energy. This means we need to work together and make big changes in how we make and use energy.

But most of the time, the words they use to talk about energy and the climate can be confusing. That’s why they want children and young people to come up with ideas for:

how to use energy better,

how to teach people about sustainable energy in the communities in fun and easy-to-understand ways.

The Commonwealth also want teachers and educators to share their best ideas for teaching about sustainable energy to children and communities. They believe in investing in young people and helping them lead the way to a better future for everyone.

Eligibility Criteria

There are three categories in total. Category A and B are for persons aged 7 to 17 years old, and Category C is for educators of any age who educate their community on sustainable energy.

All individuals and team members must be a resident of a Commonwealth member country.

Categories A and C are individual submissions. Category B will require a team (minimum of three people) for successful submissions.

Submission for Category A and B must be led by children and youth from the following age groups (inclusive, and as of 31 August 2023): 7 to 10 years old; 11 to 14 years old; and 15 to 17 years old.

Only submit original content. All applications must be of original creation by the applicant(s).

Categories and Requirements

Category A: Stories written by children and youth, on the innovation and creative use or teaching of sustainable energy in their communities:

Identify examples of innovative ways that increase the awareness and/or the use of sustainable energy in your community.

Be a reporter; take pictures, and notes of your selected example.

Write the example into a short story.

Category B: Prototypes of technological solutions or innovations developed by the children and youth with or for sustainable energy:

Take a photo of a problem (related to energy) in your community.

See how it can be solved by using clean/renewable/sustainable energy (e.g. sun, wind, water).

Test your solution, and record how it is going (what did you do, what the impact has been and what you have learned).

Category C: Sample or case studies of best practices and materials used to educate and engage communities on sustainable energy. Category C is open to all (any age) formal and informal educators to share their best practices and educational materials:

Identify ways and materials that successfully engage your community to learn about sustainable energy.

Collate evidence of your sessions (write about your methodology, take a video, and collate the materials you use).

How to Submit?

Interested candidates can submit their entries through this link.

Submission Deadline

August 31, 2023.

Awards & Prizes

All winners will receive certificates from the Commonwealth Secretariat. The winning entries (one per five Commonwealth regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada, the Caribbean, and the Pacific) will be offered the chance to pitch their ideas to their local governments and policymakers through a virtual platform, with the potential for implementation, dependent on funding and suitability of the solution.

A grand prize will be offered to the best entry in the 15-17 years category to attend COP28 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) with the Commonwealth, to present their work.

Click here to view the official notification of the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) Children and Youth Challenge 2023.