Flagship Program: Student Essay Contest

“What is the biggest challenge

facing women and girls in your country today?”

Our global presence

Harvard GlobalWE Essay Contest Participants are in countries around the world

Rights and Wrongs in the Middle Women, by Dilay K.

"If both men and women are taught to listen and understand each other as well as to treat each other equally, there will be less difficulties not only in our country, but in the whole world.”

The Ghanian Woman's Quest for Equality, by Benedicta A.

“An average Ghanaian family would rather have the pride of having a wedded daughter than a Ph.D. holding bachelorette...Promoting gender equality and empowerment of women is of benefit not only to the women, but to the country at large.”

The Burdens of Prejudice Embedded in the Chinese Language, by Dabria

“In a world where only the most tangible things can be characterised as real, as existing, we often forget that challenges can also come from within, from places which we easily ignore. In China, the greatest challenge that women and girls face is the language formed through the ancestral ideology: 「三從四德」.”

2023 GlobalWE Essay Contest Winners!

The GlobalWE Essay Contest was established to invite students to think critically about the status and rights of women. In most regions, we work in partnership with local schools. The contest is open to 11th-grade students around the world. Students from 31 countries have participated in the Essay Contest so far.

Students write an essay responding to the question: “What is the biggest challenge facing women and girls in your country today?” We choose winners each year to celebrate students’ powerful reflections on this critical question. Please join us in congratulating all winners of the 2023 Essay Contest, and read their inspiring and thought-provoking essays below.

List of 2023 Winners

  • Abdullah Mohamed, Egypt

  • Amanda Siy – Immaculate Conception Academy

    Lucas Bakker – Beacon Academy

    Wynette Kristi Chua – International School Manila

    Janine Hung – Xavier School Nuvali

    Risha Sam Sy- Saint Jude Catholic School

    Miktam Martinez – The Raya School

    Arianne Nicole De Leon – St. Scholastica’s College

    Julia Adelle David – Saint Pedro Poveda College

    Shawn James Maravilla – FEU Cavite Senior High School

  • Deanna Pearlynn Wong Ann Rei, Anglo-Chinese Junior College

    Kit Hoi – Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

    Chloe Pang Kai Yi, Catholic Junior College

    Su Tze Ching, St. Andrew’s Junior College

    Selena Liew Hui Yi, Tampines Meridian Junior College

    Snigdha Sengupta, Yishun Innova Junior College

  • Serene Elmusharaf, American Community School of Abu Dhabi

  • Nora Koutooupes Guessous -Lycee Francais, NYC

    Allison Hayes - Ethel Walker School, Connecticut

    Luran Yu -Ethel Walker School, Connecticut

    Sophia Memon -Whitney M.Young Magnet High School, Chicago

  • Paul Fritsch-Fontanges, Ecole Jeannine Manuel

  • Scott Sunghwan Kim, Ivy Collegiate School

    Jenna Kim, Seoul Foreign School

    Jeong Min Park, Taejeon Christian International School

    Katelyn Oh, Seoul International School

    Eunhe Kang, Cheongna Dalton School

  • Nuria Muneeb, Army Public School

    Marium Shokat, Beaconhouse School System

    Suvaibah Ali, Beaconhouse School System

    Abeer Sindhu, Meritorious College

    Mirha Siddiqui, Highbrow College

    Syed Abbas Haider Zaidi, Kingsley American School

    Anoushey Kapadia, The C.A.S. School

    Nina Perchani, Karachi High School

    Syeda Hafsa Ozair, Intellect School

    Syeeda Batool, Bay View High

    Areeba Sheikh, Haque Academy

    Dawood Public School

    Eshaal Lakhani, National Grammar School

  • Lee Ka Yee Emily, Belilios Public School

    Lee Ka Yuet, Ivy, C & MA Sun Kei Secondary School

    Wang Sui Ki, Diocesan Girls' School

    Gael Marie Thea Doysabas Santillan, ELCHK Lutheran Academy

    Chan Olivia Hui Lam, Good Hope School

    Wanyi Gan, Harrow International School Hong Kong

    Chan Yee Ching, Heep Yunn School

    Shawn He, HKBUAS Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

    Lam Kin Ching Sophie, HKBUAS Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School

    Fung Wing Yin, HKMA K S Lo College

    Yang Sin Yi Julia, HKTA Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School

    Mok Hei Yi Gyneth, HKUGA College

    Kan Hoi Kiu, Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School

    Jasmine Yu, Island School

    Lau Hiu Wa Ariel, Jockey Club Ti-i College

    Lai Hoi Lam Hilary, Kowloon True Light School

    Lam Wai Ka Audrey, Maryknoll Convent School (Secondary Section)

    Isabelle Farran, Nord Anglia International School 

    Jase Yip, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School

    Lai Xinyi, St. Antonius Girls’ College

    Lee Ho Yin, St. Joseph's Anglo-Chinese School

    Lai Cheuk Lam, St. Mary's Canossian College

    Lai Ho Yuet Kristie, St. Paul's Co-educational College

    Leung Cindy, St. Paul's Convent School

    Nicole Kwok, St. Paul's School (Lam Tin)

    Yuffie Chan, Tak Oi Secondary School

    Ben Jones, The Harbour School

    Celine Lee, The ISF Academy

    Fatima Iftikhar, Tung Chung Catholic School

    Chan Hui Wing, Ying Wa Girls' School

    Luis Angelo Galarse Tolosa, Yu Chun Keung Memorial College No.2

  • Jaid Pham,NYC

    Queenie Lin, NYC

    Sabrina Xu, NYC

    Victoria Ordona, 

Support our Student Essay Contest

Membership continues to be free, but we hope you will consider a voluntary contribution!  May we suggest $10 for every year you’ve been a Member or Friend, or for each event that you’ve attended? Donations of $99 or more entitle you to a beautiful hardcover collection of the winning essays from the first five years of our contest for high school students.