2010 Essay Contest Submission Guide
How to Submit Your Essay Online
In a few days we will open the online submission form. Check back for more information about online submissions.
Privacy: Personal information provided by entrants will be used by Oakseed Ministries for contest purposes only and will not be shared or used for solicitation purposes.
Receipt Deadline
Essays must be submitted by 11:59pm local time on May 1, 2010.
How to Submit Your Essay by Mail
To submit your essay by mail, include the following two parts.
Part One: A Personal Information Form
Use a cover page to provide the following information:
Your name
Your date of birth
Home address, City, State, Postal Code, Country
Home telephone number
Email address
School’s name (or specify home school)
Grade level (or equivalent)
Parent’s or guardian’s name (For age category 17 & under)
Include the following statement with your Personal Information Form:
I ____(your name)_____ am submitting an original essay to Oakseed Ministries. I certify that this essay is my own work. I understand that my essay will not be returned to me and will become the property of Oakseed Ministries to use at its discretion in activities related to furthering a compassionate response to the issue of child imprisonment. I further understand that the judges’ decisions are final.
Part Two: Submit two copies of your essay
Send your Personal Information Form and two copies of your essay to:
Essay Contest
Oakseed Ministries International
PO Box 607
Dunn Loring, VA 22027
Join the forum discussion on this post
37 Responses 
Leave a Reply 
I am very interested in submitting an essay, however, I will be turning 23 years old in early January. I am wondering if I am still eligible to participate.
Thank you.
Thank you for your question, Tori! We only accept essays from youth that are 22 and under by the submission deadline, May 1, 2010. Unfortunately, this means you are ineligible for the contest. However, if you are interested in learning more about children in prison, please continue to visit the site! It will be regularly updated with information and resources to learn more about the topic.
Participants can be from anywhere in the world right? For example, I am a student from India…
Absolutely!! The essay contest is open to students all over the world. We also accept essays in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Chinese.
I would be very glad to submitt my essay.Am i reccommended?
Thank you for your question, Sharon. If by recommended, you mean qualified, then you are qualified as long as you meet the following requirements:
*Under 22 by May 1, 2010:
Age Categories
17 & under: 5,000 characters or less (approx. 1000 words in length).
18-22: 7,500 characters or less (approx. 1500 words in length).
*Your essay must be submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Chinese.
*Follow all essay guidelines on this site.
thanks for your wonderfull support
i want to know the essay i will be witting.
For essay topics, please see the “2010 Essay Contest Topics” section on our website:
Essay Contest Topics
i wanted to know more about the essay and how to submit it. Is the contest of the essay worldwide or just focused on specific country
Thank you for your question! The contest addresses child imprisonment worldwide and is open to youth all over the world.
hello,thanks for all you people have been doing on this site to make things easier for the youth.
Sorry,can someone summit online or if not possible,please how can one provide him/herself with cover page or is it being downloaded online?.thanks
Hi! You can submit your essay online here: http://www.oakseedessaycontest.com/submit-essay/
If you apply online, you do not have to include a coversheet.
Hi, I want to know how long the essay should be if I write it in Chinese.
Thank you!
Hi Mavis! If you are writing in Chinese, aim for 2-3 pages. Thanks!
what is the topic of the essay contest or can we pick our own topic ?
Hi Dinachandra,
Topics are available here:
http://www.oakseedessaycontest.com/guidelines/2010essaytopics/
[...] may also be submitted in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Chinese. See the following essay submission guidelines page for more information on other [...]
will like to know the kind of essay to send. I am much interested but want to know first.
Thank You
Hello Priscilla,
Essays should be informative and compassionate responses to the problem of the imprisoned child. You must write about one of seven topics, available here
Thanks!
am very intrested in submitting an essay,can i get the topics.
Hello Nickson,
Topics are available here:
http://www.oakseedessaycontest.com/guidelines/2010essaytopics/
Thanks!
Lauren
I want to participate in this competition but i am having a confusion regarding the front page. Is the page provided by you or we shall make it on our own?
Hi Apeksha,
If you submit your essay by mail, you must provide a coversheet. However, if you submit it online, the information that you fill out in the submission form is sufficient. Details are available here:
Submission Guide
where can we get our submission form?(for those who will submit their entry through e-mail).thank you
Hi Melizza,
If you submit your essay on the website, just fill out the required information and you do not need a form. If you submit it via email, you must list the required information on a coversheet at the beginning of your essay, as listed above.
Best,
Lauren
Hi, I am really interested in doing this essay, but im just not sure if i qulify bc of one small issue: I had to drop out of my University in the spring because of finacial difficulties, but I am going to a community college in the fall. I was wondering if i am still qualified or not.
Thanks, Becky
Hi Becky,
Thank you for your question. You do not have to be enrolled in college to qualify. Therefore, you are free to enter.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Lauren
Is it possible that we only send it into your email?
because we have nothing to pay for, for sending a copy to ur office…
im from the philippines
i will do so immediately and get back to you.
thank you
Hi Floro,
If you do not wish to submit by mail, you can submit on this site here or you can email your essay to lauren@oakseed.org. If you email it, however, be sure that you have a coversheet with all of the required information on it.
hello. just want to ask, i am interested to join the contest but i just want to clarify that the essay should be by mail and not email?thanks.i’m from philippines.:)
Hi Riza,
You can submit by mail or email. The easiest way, however, is probably to submit on this website here.
Thanks!
Lauren
Hi. I will be participating in this amazing essay contest. I have a question to ask: Should the essay be written in first person or not? and what is the maximum of words i can write? thank you.
I really want to participate in all this amazing situation..
Wish some one mail me and make conversation with me to guide me, because am not good in these sites .
I will be grateful for that ..
Thank you very much,
Ahmad
Hi Tatiana,
Your essay can be written in first or third person. The maximum is approximately 1,500 words.
Thanks!
Lauren
Hi Ahmad,
You can submit your essay on this site here. If you have further questions, you can email me at lauren@oakseed.org
Thanks!
Lauren