Being a school student can sometimes be challenging, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made things even more difficult by upending the lives of young people all across the world. During this period marked by school closures, in collaboration with Takhte India, UNESCO engaged children all over India earlier this year and asked them to share how they are navigating life during the coronavirus pandemic in a full-length essay.
The pandemic is affecting different people in different ways. With limited access to the outside world and very few avenues for communication, children may find it difficult to express how and what they're feeling. To this end, the pan India essay contest served as an exercise for students to express how they're feeling and coping with the changes brought about in their lives by the pandemic.
A recurrent feeling of hope for a better future and the drive to shape this future was noticed in the essay entries received from young Indians. More than 1000 essays were surveyed out of which the top 100 entries were selected to be compiled into a book titled Year 1 AC (After Coronavirus)- Essays by 100 Young Indians. The essays were judged on the parameters of creativity, flow and relevance to the topic.
This collection of powerful essays tells the story of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on boys and girls, and young women and men in India. The book of essays containing examples and anecdotes of how these young thinkers have reoriented their lives is now available for the wider public.
For further information, please contact:
Goldie Kasturia, Founder - Takhte (goldiekmanuja@gmail.com)