Essay Contest

Please congratulate our 2009-2010 school year winners:

Alex Warren - 6th grade at St. Andrews School in Park Ridge

Sharon Johnson - 7th grade at Friendship Junior High in Des Plaines

Lily Elderkin - 8th grade at Lincoln Middle School in Park Ridge

3rd Annual Essay Contest - Students 6th-8th grades 2010-2011 school year

Global Handmade Hope, a fair trade company, located in Park Ridge, IL is running it's third annual essay contest . The goal is to help  educate youth in the US about how fortunate they are to attend school, to broaden cultural awareness and acceptance, and to facilitate the pride our children can fell by helping others. 

The contest began after store founder, Cynthia Glensgard, traveled to Rwanda  on a mission trip. Glensgard says "I was so moved by the children. They are just like any other kid who wants to run, play, and learn.  However, these kids are forced to work in order to provide food for their families. The lack of education children receive due to the level of poverty in the country is astonishing. Each day a family must decide between feeding their children or sending them to school.  It's a vicious cycle, how can a child change their future if they are never given the opportunity to receive an education?” 

The contest is for students in 6th through 8th grade.  Winners will receive a $50 prize and a matching donation will be made in their honor to help provide education for children in Africa. Below are the details for the contest:

Essay Contest:  Daily life of children Africa similar to your age.

Guidelines:  Each student will write an essay on what a typical day in the life of a child in Africa their age is like. Students can pick any country in Africa. 

Requirments (double spaced):

6^th  grade : 2 pages

7th grade: 3 pages

8th grade: 4 pages

Extra points will be given to students who also include a creative aspect in their project.

 Judges:  The essay will read by a panel of three individuals:  Cynthia Glensgard, owner of Global Handmade Hope: Sue Fox McGovern, local writer:  David Schmidt, Mayor of Park Ridge. 

 Deadlines:  Essays will be accepted until June 30th  and winners will be announced Sept. 28th.  Awards will be given at the begining of 2011-2012 school year.  You can drop essays off at Global Handmade Hope, 428 W. Touhy Ave. (corner of Norhtwest Hwy & Touhy) Park Ridge, 847-720-4084 or email them to customerservice@globalhandmadehope.com.  Be sure to include the students name, age, grade currently attending, school name, address, phone, and a contact email.