The Make the Case for Caring Essay Contest is a forum for thoughtful high school thinkers to share their analysis on a different international development topic each year. This page looks back at the Make the Case for Caring Essay Contest in 2018.

This contest asks students to build a creative, persuasive argument for engagement in a country like Mali -- far from students' homes and daily concerns. National winners of this essay contest receive cash awards and recognition. The 2018 contest theme was: Numerous challenges exist in countries like Mali, where many people live in extreme poverty – poor nutrition and health, food insecurity, lack of sanitation and clean water, violence and instability, low literacy rates, inadequate infrastructure, and more. Why should education be a priority given all of the competing needs in a country like Mali?

The 2018 Make the Case for Caring Essay Contest winners: 

1. First place: Kaelyn Ha of Hunter College High School, New York, NY
2. Second place: Justin Song of Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, MD
3. Third place: Johanna Ziegler of Minarets High School in O'Neals, CA

We congratulate the top three winners and all our finalists for their wonderful work. Learn more about the next Make the Case for Caring Essay Contest theme and deadlines!