Voices for Change: How the IPA Youth Essay Competition Ignited My Passion for Change

This spring marks the 5th anniversary of the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) Youth Essay Competition, an opportunity for middle and high school youth to explore and comment on key issues facing India today. In fact, the deadline for this year’s submissions – July 1 — is fast approaching. As a high school finalist in last year’s competition, I can personally speak to how transformative this experience was for my fellow competitors and for me. 

Last spring, my thoughts and interests revolved around healthcare, as my paternal grandfather’s health had begun to decline drastically. Every chance I could get, I researched emergency services and hospitals in Kerala, which is where my grandparents live. A teacher at my school who knew about my being born in Kerala and my fascination with topics such as rural development and health encouraged me to compile my learnings and present them in the form of an essay—through this national competition. 

Sharing my perspective and research using this outlet was very rewarding for me during a period of fear and uncertainty. To be able to not only analyze a problem but also to propose policy recommendations and various solutions was grounding and empowering for me. My writing process laid the groundwork for both intimate and broader conversations I was hoping to have with my parents and my family in India. 

Truth be told, by the time I submitted my essay, I had forgotten it would be evaluated alongside submissions from a large number of other youth competitors. I was simply proud to have created an end-product that encapsulated much of the independent browsing and reflection I’d been doing in the months prior. 

In late summer, Peg Fourré, IPA’s Deputy Director, informed me that I was a finalist. I was pleasantly surprised and eagerly accepted her invitation for me to be interviewed about my essay and, afterward, to participate in a panel discussion with other successful participants. In both discussions, I thoroughly enjoyed recounting my memories and knowledge of India’s healthcare system and shedding light on what I had learned about rural communities. The panel conversation was especially impactful. Seeing and hearing from other students with personal connections to India, I listened closely to their perspectives and became cognizant of issues that aren’t often in the mainstream. 

My wonderful experience in this competition led to my reaching out to Peg about getting further involved with IPA and engaging this inspiring group of students. I was thrilled to discover that IPA was planning to launch a Youth Leadership Council for India Giving Day and would be inviting essay finalists and students who’d been volunteering with IPA member organizations to join the council. Helping organize and lead the council with Peg was exceptionally fun and fulfilling. 

In the end, the Council was composed of 14 students, many of whom were essay participants. We brainstormed and implemented ideas to improve youth engagement and achieve a record-breaking India Giving Day 2024. During our monthly meetings, we discussed our progress, provided feedback to each other and to IPA, and strategized for effective collaboration. Our efforts ranged from content creation and social media management on behalf of participating organizations to fundraising and event planning. I was delighted to see that the ideas people brought up and the member organizations they expressed interest in supporting during the campaign often followed the themes their essays highlighted—and often included new ones!

Youth engagement is at the heart of IPA’s mission, and the Youth Essay Competition is an essential first step in fostering philanthropic thought and action among young people. Through this competition, I’ve learned that our voices matter and that we can make a meaningful difference on issues that are important to us. Winners even gain access to a national platform; thanks to IPA’s partnership with Indiaspora, the winners are flown to a national gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit executives to talk about their essays. 

To all the young writers out there, I urge you to consider participating in the IPA Youth Essay Competition this year. There is still time! Your insights and solutions can contribute to a greater understanding of India’s challenges and help drive positive change. The competition is more than just a platform for writing—it’s a gateway to becoming part of a community dedicated to making a difference.

Submit your essays by July 1 and join us in celebrating five years of inspiring young voices.

The India Philanthropy Alliance’s Youth Essay Competition is sponsored by the
Sarva Mangal Family Trust and Sehgal Foundation.

About the Author

Melvin Joseph is a high school senior at Milton Academy who was a finalist in the India Philanthropy Alliance 2023 Youth Essay Competition. He currently interns at the India Philanthropy Alliance and serves as the student lead for the India Giving Day Youth Leadership Council, which was established last fall and aims to support this annual fundraising campaign. He can be reached at melvin.joejoseph@gmail.com.