TSL International Student Competition – From Eco-Anxiety to Eco Action and Empowerment

Published by Abinaidah Chaseba

Deadline: 3 March 2025

Open to: all students worldwide, aged 7-18

Benefits: the overall Grand Prize Winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of £1000 plus £500 for their school

DESCRIPTION

Since the first competition was launched in 2010, it has received over 14,000 essay and video entries from 120 countries, exploring topics from sustainability education, protecting biodiversity and sustainable cities, to climate justice, nature-based solutions and youth messages to world leaders.

This year, in celebration of our 15th year of International Student Competitions, Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) is excited to launch its next competition inviting students to share their original, creative and expressive responses to the theme, From Eco-Anxiety to Eco Action & Empowerment

Eco-anxiety, climate grief and climate anxiety are defined as ‘negative emotional responses generated due to the threat of environmental and climate crisis’.  A 2024 United Nations report has highlighted that ‘Eco-anxiety’ is an ‘emergency crisis hidden in plain sight’ and is likely to create a massive impact among the world’s children and youth.

TSL wants to help young people develop a sense of agency, empowerment, and hope for solutions and action by creating a safe and supportive space and outlet for expression for students and teachers to explore moving from feelings of eco-anxiety to eco-action & empowerment.

ELIGIBILITY

  • The International Student Competition is open to all students worldwide, aged 7-18 across two age categories – 7-11 years and 12-18 years.
  • TSL accepts any form of student response, you can choose to create a piece of artwork, music, video, poem, essay, letter, story, etc.  There are no restrictions on the type of work submitted, they want students to be as open and creative as possible in interpreting the theme, however, it must meet the submission criteria detailed in the brief.

BENEFITS

The overall Grand Prize Winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of £1000 plus £500 for their school, with one Runner Up receiving a trophy and a cash prize of £500 plus £250 for their school (cash prizes paid in local currency). All participating Teacher Champions, Finalists, Honourable Mentions and International Debate participants, will receive personalized e-certificates.

HOW TO ENTER?

You can submit your entries via the TSL Submittable Page. If you don’t already have a Submittable account you will need to register before you can submit your entries.

For further information, please visit the official website.