HelpAge India Essay, Video and Science Project Contest 2016

What is HelpAge India Essay, Video and Science Project Contest 2016?

HelpAge India is a leading charity platform in India working with and for disadvantaged elderly and has become the representative voice for India’s elderly. This contest is for school level kids to visualize themselves as 64 years old, and accordingly write an essay, make a film using a mobile phone or design a product all about enabling Happiness after Sixty

Essay

All topics will start with the perspective of "When I'm 64"so that the students visualize his/her life at that age.

1. "When I am 64 - Wondering what new skills I can learn from my grandchildren"
2. "When I am 64 - What new activities I can take up now that I am retired"
3. "When I am 64 - What I can do to involve young people in teaching under privileged children"
4. "When I am 64 - How I can use my past work experience to work for the betterment of my city"

Minimum word count: 1000.
Category 1A: Essays in English
Category 1B: Essays in the official vernacular language of the State.

Mobile video films

All films will be made using mobile phones. The films will be based on interviews with a senior citizen who will be asked to narrate his/her unique/interesting incident from his/her life which shaped the course of his/her life.

1. Duration of film: minimum duration 3 minutes, maximum duration 5 minutes.
2. Opening Shot: every video clip must have an opening shot of the student holding a piece of white A4 size paper stating clearly in capital letters: Name, Class, School, City, State.

Science Project

Plan and prove functionality of a product that would help senior citizens in their daily life. You may choose from any of the following ideas, or think of a new product concept.

1. Remove a danger (must specify which and why) that elders face in their daily lives by providing a safety device.
2. Develop an alarm system that could alert children/neighbours/security guards whenever a senior citizen has a fall at home/ in the bathroom/ on the staircase (must apply in all three situations).
3. Design walking shoes for senior citizens that offer comfort and relief from knee pain/arthritis.
4. Any gadget/ product that will be easy for an elder to use given that elders have to live with reduced strength in their arms and reduced mobility.

You must submit a concept paper and a line drawing of the product that you have imagined. There is no need to actually create the product.

Who can apply for this scholarship ?

Students of class 8-10 of any school are eligible to apply.

How can you apply ?

FOR STUDENTS
Please contact your school and find out whether your school is participating in the contest, in which case they will be forwarding all Student entries. You can submit your entries in hard copy or soft copy format to your school.
You can also participate directly by clicking on the Enroll Now button below.
You can also post your essay or your project write up or your mobile video film on a CD to the local HelpAge India State office.

FOR SCHOOLS
Please read the complete rules of the contest.
Schools can upload all student entries on our website. Click on the Enroll Now button below to upload multiple student entries.
Schools can also post student essays or project write-ups and mobile video films on CDs to the local HelpAge India State office (address given in the website – Contact Us section).The bunch of entries must have a covering school enrolment form.

FAQs

Q. Can a student participate in different contest categories?

A. Yes, a student can participate in all 3 categories. He/ she has to fill a separate independent enrolment for each application.

Q. How many applications can be made under a single category?

A. A student can submit only one essay or one film or one science project. Of course, he can submit one in each category.

Q. Can a student edit his/ her details as also the entry content?

A. The student has the flexibility to edit his/ her entry and details till such time the entry is finally uploaded. Once uploaded the entry cannot be recalled for edit.

Q. Does a student have to apply only through the school? Or can he/ she apply independently?

A. Student has the option to apply either through the school or independently.

Q. How will the student get information about the result of the contest?

A. The contest outcome will be put on the website. The winners will also get intimation at the email address provided in the enrolment form submitted by the school or the student.

Q. Who does the student/ school phone for clarifications?

A. The student/ school can phone the local HelpAge India State Office. Phone numbers and address available on the website under the Contact Us – Our Network section.

Q. Can the student email his/ her entry to the whenim64contest@helpageindia.org?

A. NO. This email ID is only meant for clarification purposes and entries to this ID will not be considered. Entries have to be submitted online or posted to the local HelpAge India State Office.

Q. What states are eligible for the school/ student contest?

A. There are 21 states eligible for the contest. They are: - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi/NCR, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Q. Can students from other states apply?

A. Yes, he/ she can. He/ she will have to choose the nearest state as part of the online submission, or post the entry to the nearest state office and travel to that state capital if shortlisted in the State Level contest.

Terms and Conditions

Prizes for Students:

State Level:

Rs 1,000 to Rs5,000 and certificate

National Level Scholarships:

Rs 50,000 and certificate

Prizes for Schools:

State Level: Four Trophies, one each in the four categories respectively – English Essay, Vernacular Essay, Video Film and Science Project - for the School with maximum participation of students in each of these categories.

National Level: Three Trophies, one each for the school sending in the winning entry in each of the three categories respectively – English Essay, Video Film and Science Project.

Selection of winners

• Students will have to upload their entries to here using the Contest Enrolment form – For Students.
• Alternatively, ensure that their hard copy entries reach the State HelpAge office (address given in the website – Contact Us section) by 30th September 2016.
• In every State, the Jury will shortlist the top 50 English essays, top 50 vernacular essays, top 15 video clips and top 15 science projects.
• These participants will be invited to a State event where the Essay category entrants will have to write a fresh essay at the venue.
• The video and science project entrants will have to present their entries to the Jury who may ask questions.
• The winning contestant from each State in the following categories: English Essay, Video Clip and Science Project will be invited to a National event at Delhi, where the final winner in each category will be chosen.
• STATE level prizes will be given at an event in the State Capital and date for this will be notified to the school and also on www.helpageindia.org. The outstation shortlisted candidates invited for the State event can be accompanied by a guardian and will be reimbursed Rs 2,000/candidate.
• NATIONAL level prize contest will happen at Delhi in the month of February 2017 and date for this will be notified to the school and also on www.helpageindia.org. The outstation shortlisted candidates invited for the National event can be accompanied by a guardian and will be reimbursed Rs. 10,000/candidate.

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