Deadline: 14 August 2022

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL)  are hosting The Stories of Africa, a youth storytelling contest that aims to amplify critical voices from across the African continent.

They are looking for perspectives from Indigenous Peoples, local communities, pastoralists, women leaders, farmers, and community leaders on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Food systems and livelihoods
• Land tenure and rights
• Land degradation and restoration
• Youth initiatives  
• Women’s leadership

 I. Prize

The three best stories will receive prizes of EUR 500, 300 and 200 respectively. They  will also be showcasing the best 10 to 15 stories and announcing the winner stories at the GLF Africa Digital Conference 2022 on 15 September 2022, which will be attended by thousands and reach millions via social media and the press. 

II. Eligibility

The contest is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 who:

• Was born in Africa and lives there;
• Or belongs to the African diaspora but has strong ties with the continent;
• Or works closely with Indigenous Peoples and local communities in Africa;
• Or has a strong interest in amplifying the voices of African youth.

III. Content

Please address the following questions in your story:

• Why is the topic you are presenting important and relevant to your community?
• What are the biggest challenges to your culture or community in relation to this topic?
• What are the opportunities for your community in relation to this topic?
• Are you currently working on a project or initiative relevant to this topic? If so, please briefly explain or show us!

IV. Format

• You can submit videos of any length and format: short films, interviews, and documentaries – anything you like!
• You can also submit audio stories in the form of a podcast.
• Poems, songs or any other forms of art may also be included in your application.
• Please include a photo of yourself and your landscape in the application. 
• In case you want to send your video or audio in French or an Indigenous language, please also provide a transcript in English.

Please, remember to include the following in your story (e.g. at the beginning or end of the video or audio):  

• Your full name;
• Your municipality and country; 
• The name of your community  (if applicable)

V. How to Apply?

To submit, please click here

VI. Disclaimers

• All entries will be reviewed by a panel including the YIL Steering Committee and the GLF team.
• We acknowledge all submissions but will contact only selected candidates. The panel’s decision will be final and is not subject to appeal. 
• YIL and GLF reserve the right not to select a winner if no entries that they deem suitable are received.
• YIL and GLF reserve the right to use, edit or modify the final version of submissions, to be presented during sessions at the GLF Africa conference.
• YIL and GLF would like to particularly encourage underrepresented groups to apply for the storytelling contest.
• Contributors must be 18–35 years old to submit their story. The story must be original and owned by the contributor. By submitting your entry to the contest, the contributor agrees to a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial share-alike license (BY-NC-SA).
• By uploading your entry, the contributor ensures that the material was taken legally and that they have the right to portray all people or other information contained in the uploaded material.
• Contest organizers reserve the right to use the material submitted through the contest for GLF materials and exhibitions during GLF and YIL events. Contributors will be given proper credit when the organizers publish or use their pictures, videos and/or audios.
• Contributors who work for the media are required to attach an authorization signed by a representative of the media company employing them. This authorization should state that the contest organizers have permission to publish the author’s piece from the media outlet where the story originally appeared. Please attach your approval (if applicable) in the submission form.
• The GLF and YIL reserves the right to disqualify contestants in the case of suspicious activity throughout the voting period. Fraudulent activities will be monitored and will lead to exclusion.