This article was first published in December 2021
By David Lukiiza
Daniela Adong, a student at Mt St Mary’s College Namagunga, has emerged winner of the Young Africans Writers Contest (YAWC) 2021.
Adong beat 850 participants to the prize in September, in the competition organised by the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) and the African Union.
The theme was, ‘My Africa, My Future’, and Adong explains that she focused on key issues that affect the youth in Africa. In the essay, titled “The blueprint for the future”, Adong says she covered issues such as civil war, health problems and income inequality in Africa and how this can be addressed with the available resources.
Adong says she is grateful to the African Union and ECOSOCC for the opportunity given to Africa through the essay competitions, where they get an opportunity to express their opinions as African children.
“The essay competition is a brilliant idea that brings on board creative ideas, I cannot wait to see where it goes and how m At the award-giving ceremony in Kampala recently, Henry Oriokot, the chairperson AU, ECOSOCC and regional organising partner in East Africa, said it is pride to see a Ugandan teenager talking about solutions to the problems in Africa.
“By acknowledging the innovative thinking that the young bring to the table, YAWC and AU aims to encourage the youth to reflect on the crucial role they play by providing them any African stories come up,” she says with a space to express themselves freely,” he said.
Oriokot added: “My Africa, My Future” will articulate their aspirations and ideals for the kind of future they want for the continent.
The Prizes
In addition to winning a laptop, Adong will also take a tour to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, where she will meet some of the heads of the African Union.
The Young Africans Writing Contest is an initiative by the Economic, Social and Cultural Council to bridge the gap between African youth and the union.
