The Problem Younger adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 14 – 17 years face several health
issues that affect more than their physical wellbeing, which means their mental, social, behavioral health is at risk.
Despite the many health initiatives for young people, these traditional interventions that focus on specific diseases
and often does not involve young people as partners may not effectively address the needs of this group. We need new,
youth-inspired strategies to bridge this health and wellness gap for young people and for AYA health research.
The Solution By utilizing a Whole Person Health (WPH) approach, we believe storytelling can
empower younger AYA to clarify confusing health experiences, adopt preventive strategies, and communicate their own
solutions.
Are you between the ages of 14 & 17 years? If yes,
using stories, poems, and artwork, tell us: how might
you, as a young person, take care of your health in every way: mind, body, and heart. Share your personal
and
unique journey and experiences of how you stay happy, healthy, and vibrant. Let Your Story Inspire Change! Share Your
Whole Person Health Journey Today!
Our Process We invite all 14–17-year-olds to submit stories, letters, poems, and artwork
describing their WPH in an online storytelling contest. Your stories will help us as public health researchers to better
understand how young people think about their well-being and strive to be happy and healthy – this will help us create
effective preventive health and wellness strategies that are designed and driven by young people.
Guidelines for Submission:
Eligibility Open to young people aged 14-17 worldwide. Submissions can be in any of these forms
(stories, poems, and artwork) and must be in English or translated to English language. All submissions must be your
original work, with no more than 10% of artificial intelligence (AI) use detected.
Applicants should address these three questions in their submissions:
i) How do you stay healthy, happy, and vibrant in every way as a young person? Tell us about the health of your body,
mind, and heart.
ii) How have you (in the past) or how you would often deal with any health issue that was tough for you while still
trying to stay healthy and happy in every area of your life? What did you do, or would you do even when you could not
solve this problem?
iii) Share with us a moment when you felt good, stayed excited, and supported others, even if you were still figuring
out how to be healthy, happy, and vibrant as a young person?
Submission
Submit your work online via Google forms (
https://bit.ly/3OWZYYS), email (
topetabi@gmail.com), or WhatsApp (+2349090496884). Only one entry per person is
allowed. If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach us at
topetabi@gmail.com or
+2349090496884.
Timeline
Deadline: April 20, 2024
Judging process: March 20-April 27, 2024
Winners’ announcement: April 30-May 3, 2024
Judging
Contest submissions will be judged by an interdisciplinary panel of judges, consisting of young people, storytellers,
health educators, and researchers.
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
-
Originality and creativity: Are the submissions original works of the applicants, and created primarily by the
applicants, without significant help (more than 10%) of artificial intelligence? Does the submission stand out
as unique and original?
-
Clarity of Expression: is the submission clearly expressed, narrated or depicted? Is it comprehensible?
-
Quality: Are the submissions well written, composed, or designed?
-
Theme: Does the submission depict or express the main theme of the contest question, which is on how young
people achieve their Whole Person Health?
-
Impact: Is the submission inspiring, compelling, or thought-provoking?
With the exception of ‘Theme’, each criterion will be scored on a scale of 0 –10, with 10 points being the maximum score
attainable for each criterion. Theme will be scored on a scale of 0 to 20, with 20 points being the maximum attainable
for this criterion. The total score possible is 60 points.
Prizes
The top three entries for each category of i) written stories, ii) poems, and iii) artwork will win the following
prizes:
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $275
3rd Place: $150
With winners’ permission, we will feature winning entries on an online health magazine and on research partner websites.
Winners have the option to decline publication of their works.
Steering committee Dr. Juliet Iwelunmor, Dr. Temitope Ojo, Dr. Titilola Gbaja-Biamila
