Competition Overview
Social Justice Awards
The Social Justice Awards is a prestigious global competition designed to encourage students to engage critically with pressing social justice issues. Participants are invited to explore themes such as equality, human rights, environmental justice, and inclusive governance, while presenting innovative solutions and perspectives. The competition emphasizes the importance of fostering a global understanding of justice and equity and aims to inspire the next generation of changemakers.
Competition Topic Example 2025
Each category offers a set of questions each year.
2025 Fall
"Health for All: Bridging the Gap in Health Equity"
Students are asked to write an essay or a narrative (up to 2,000 words), or Poetry to the following prompt:
Across the globe, millions of people continue to struggle with barriers that prevent them from accessing the healthcare they need to live healthy lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 4.4 billion people—more than half of the world’s population—lack access to essential health services, which are critical for preventing and treating illnesses.
In some parts of the world, children are at much higher risk of dying from preventable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea, with their chances of survival being far lower than those of children in wealthier regions. Similarly, women living in areas with limited healthcare resources face far greater dangers during childbirth, leading to significantly higher maternal mortality rates. These inequalities are often tied to factors such as income, education, and geography, making it clear that where a person is born or how much money they have can determine whether they live or die in certain situations. This unfair reality highlights the massive gap in healthcare access that continues to affect billions of people worldwide.
We Must Act Now!
Prompt 1
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.” — Martin Luther King Jr. How do you understand this quote?
Prompt 3
Is healthcare a human right or a privilege? Why?
Prompt 2
Choose one social determinant of health (e.g., gender, race, education, or income) and explain how it contributes to public health inequities. Provide specific examples or solutions to address the issue.
Prompt 4
Share a personal story or observation about a time when you or someone you know faced challenges accessing healthcare or public health resources. What did you learn from the experience？
Requirements
Writing Requirement
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Must be written in English.
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Narratives or Essays (600-2000 words); Poetry (no more than 80 lines)
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Participants must complete their work originally. If other’s works are cited, participants must include in-text citation and bibliography.
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Plagiarism is strictly forbidden
Art Requirenments
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Works in the form of comic art, design, video, painting and illustration, mixed media, photography, music, printmaking, ceramics.
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Participants must complete their work originally. If other’s works are cited, participants must include in-text citation and bibliography.
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Plagiarism is strictly forbidden
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Participants can choose to complete the work in a group no more than 2 people, or they can choose to complete it by oneself
Speech Requirement
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The speech must be done in English.
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Video length must not exceed 5 minutes
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Participants must complete their work originally.
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Plagiarism is strictly forbidden.
Blind Review
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Do not include any personal information, such as name, home address, etc.
Prizes
Grand Prize
150 USD / 1000 RMB