Essay competition · June 1 – July 31, 2026
Jamaica's hardest questions deserve new answers.
An essay competition for young Jamaicans. Write on the questions that will shape the next sixty years.
Open to Jamaicans under 18. Entries judged anonymously.
“Since independence, the same problems have outlasted every government. The people who will live with the consequences should be the ones writing the answer.”
The topics
Current topics. Pick one.
June 1 – July 31, 2026
Jamaica's electricity is among the most expensive in the Caribbean, and the centralised grid has faced significant strain during recent storms.
Jamaica is often called the Land of Wood and Water, and on paper, the country has substantial freshwater resources.
A generation of young Jamaicans is entering the housing market under conditions very different from the ones their parents faced.
Prizes & recognition
What you get for writing it.
Up to three winners are selected each year. Every winner is published by name in a local newspaper and receives a cash prize and in-kind support.
What winners receive
- JMD $50,000–$100,000 cash prize
- Tuition and school fee assistance for the 2026–2027 academic year
- Non-monetary prizes to support further education
- Publication in a local newspaper, credited by name
Who can enter
Any Jamaican national or resident under 18. No age floor, no school requirement, no parish restriction. A parent or guardian must sign the consent form before you submit.
Writing your essay
There is no prescribed format. Write as long as the argument needs.
The essays that stand out are logically structured and build their case step by step. They take a clear position, go deep on something specific, and back their claims with research and evidence. Use the reading list as a starting point, not a ceiling. We also want to hear your own thinking: original theories and personal perspectives, grounded in evidence, are exactly what we're looking for.
Where you draw on sources, cite them. We recommend APA referencing format for citations and a reference list at the end of your essay. Strong citations strengthen your argument and show you've done the work.
No AI-generated content. Every word must be your own. Essays found to contain AI-generated text will be disqualified.
Must be under 18 years of age to enter.
Age plays no part in the scoring.
How to enter
Four steps. No gatekeepers.
Pick a topic
Choose one of the open topics and read the full brief and reading list. Your essay needs to engage directly with that topic.
~10 min read each
Write your essay
Save it as a PDF. All entries are judged anonymously. Do not include your name anywhere in the essay itself.
Get the consent form
Download the consent form and have a parent or guardian complete and sign it. Every entry needs one.
Send it in
Email your PDF and the signed consent form to submissions@freethinkja.org. Include your name and age in the email body. Submissions open June 1 and close July 31, 2026.
Who is behind this
About Freethink Jamaica
A collaboration between The Freethinkers of Jamaica and Green Hills Charities — independent of any political party, accepting no anonymous funding.
We started from a simple belief: young Jamaicans have something worth saying about the country they're growing up in, and they deserve a real public audience for it.
Each year we put a question on the table — something from politics, economics, culture, or civic life. A panel of judges reads every entry. The best essays are published in a partner newspaper and earn grants in cash and in kind.
We think the habit of evidence-based argument, built early, is one of the most valuable things a young person can carry into adult life.
Contact
Questions? Partner with us?
Schools, community groups, journalists, and partners: write to us. We try to reply within two working days.
hello@freethinkja.org