Summary: For International Women’s Day 2013, Peace Corps Volunteers Chelsea Milko and Betty Lambert coordinated an essay writing competition with two Arua-area schools. The project aimed to help Ugandan youth develop their personal philosophies related to the challenges facing women and girls in Uganda while also building their writing and oratory skills. With the help of Guma Simon and Atiku Alexander of Radio Pacis in Arua, West Nile, Chelsea and Betty visited Mvara Secondary and Jiako Primary schools to kick off the project, spark a healthy discussion, and provide essay writing tips. Each participating writer received a blue book and pencil and were encouraged to keep writing well beyond the end of the competition. Out of 112 submissions, 5 were selected as winners and invited to read their essays live on-air during Radio Pacis’ ‘Pacis Youth’ program on March 9th. In this clip, Chelsea speaks with some of the essay contest winners about their submissions.
