What does the future hold for young people around the world?
With daily news of climate change, inequality and injustice, the future can seem overwhelming. But what happens next is not set in stone – it is shaped by the actions of each and every one of us.
When we tell new stories about the future, they inspire us to act in ways that can change everything. So we’ve designed a creative challenge for young people to share new stories and shape the future.
In our storybook, we’ve imagined the stories of four girls growing up around the world in the coming years – now it’s your turn. We want to hear your voice: what would the future look like for a young person in your country? Imagine the future in the Giant Leap scenario, where citizens and governments come together to take action on global challenges in the next ten years. Write, draw, paint or make a video telling us what it would be like.
Inspiration
Need ideas to help you get started?
You can read the stories in our interactive storybook and in this Zine by The Fifty Percent. You can also read our blogs exploring the lives of Ayotola and Samiha.
Ask yourself: what does your character’s daily life look like in this future scenario? What has happened in their lifetime to make the world a better place and what challenges were there on the way? What does their hometown look like? What are they thinking and feeling?
If you have questions, you can contact us or send us a DM on social media!
How to enter
Read our interactive storybook that follows the lives of four girls in two scenarios: one in which we don’t take enough action on global challenges, and another where we come together to take a Giant Leap towards a better future.
Write, paint, draw or film the story from the point of view of a character in your country. Get creative! You could write a diary entry from the future, imagining a day in the life in a world where we have taken action on climate change and poverty. Or maybe you’ll write a short story following the child as they grow up and see the world changing. You could even make a video or draw a storybook.
Read the terms and conditions, with a parent or guardian if necessary.
Send your entry by 30 June 2024 and you could win €50 in book vouchers, a copy of Earth for All, and be published in a special digital magazine!
Entries are open to young people around the world and can be sent in any language.
Entries will be judged in three categories: 15 and under, 16-18, 19-21 inclusive.
Written entries should be no longer than 800 words. Videos should be under 1.5 minutes.
For educators
If you’re looking for ways to inspire learners to think creatively about the future, we’ve compiled some resources to help:
Stories of the Future Facilitation Guide: this guide offers an immersive methodology to talk about the future we can build together by designing our daily lives of tomorrow. Through creative exercises and engaging discussions, it aims to unleash the power of our imagination and visualise the impact of the choices our governments make today on our lives for decades to come.
“Storytelling for Advocacy” Zine: this zine, developed by The Fifty Percent in collaboration with Earth4All, brings to life the contrasting experiences of three fictional characters throughout the two scenarios presented in Earth for All.
Creative examples: we’ve imagined moments in the lives of Ayotola and Samiha in the future. Use the blogs as examples and inspiration for writing projects.
Download the competition poster
Download the terms and conditions
Terms & Conditions
Please make sure you have read the terms and conditions before submitting your entry. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 CEST, 30 June 2024.