1001 Stories of Common Ground is announcing its first ever “Positive Change in Action” Competition!

If you’re in an Arab country and believe in improving your society we want to hear from you! 1001 Stories invites submission of original photos, videos  and articles that show positive social change in the Middle East and North Africa, and which demonstrate that people from different backgrounds can, and do, come together to change our world for the better.

Four prizes will be awarded: best photo, best video, best article and best video focusing on women!

Full details are available below. Make your voice heard!

The deadline has been extended to 15 July 2011.

Competition guidelines:

Deadline: 15 July 2011

Eligible entries should consist of a written piece, photo or video that portrays a specific, relevant event demonstrating positive social change in which different individuals or groups work together towards a shared goal.

All entries should be submitted through the 1001 CG Stories website. Contest entries should say “Contest entry” in the title. By adding “contest entry” and submitting a video, photo or article, you are verifying that you own the copyright to the work, that you have the necessary permissions to submit it and that it complies with the 1001 CG Stories terms and conditions. Content should be original and unpublished.

Videos should be 3-6 minutes long and in Arabic, English and/or French. Subtitles are not necessary. Videos should be submitted through the www.1001cgstories.org site, which requires that videos first be uploaded to YouTube (www.youtube.com). In the video description, clearly state who is the video creator (individual or organization).

Judging will be completed by a panel of judges from SFCG staff and regional organizations. Judges’ criteria for determining winners include:

• Whether submissions are new, unpublished material
• Number of votes received from users of the 1001 site
• How well the work demonstrates the idea of positive change in a constructive, common ground way
• Style, originality, timeliness

Awards

Winners will be creators of videos, written pieces or photos.

Up to eight finalists in the categories of best photo, best written piece and best video will have their photo, written piece or video featured in the Common Ground News Service, (www.commongroundnews.org) website and email distribution to over 32,000 subscribers worldwide.

Up to four overall winners will be selected, with one winner in each of the following categories.

• Best photo: $500 grant
• Best written piece: $500 grant
• Best video: $500 grant
• Best video highlighting an initiative to promote women's rights or gender equality: $500 grant plus $500 cash

The best overall will receive an additional $250 grant.

Awards/grants must be used to attend a regional conference (to be chosen or approved by SFCG) or to enhance your organization’s (if applicable) work. Winners will need to show proof of how funds were used during the 2011 year.

Eligibility:

Entrants must be 18 years old or older.

Entrants must be a resident of one of the following countries:

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Palestinian territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

SFCG reserves the right to request proof of residency.

Additional information

SFCG reserves the right to disqualify entries if any of the above criteria is found to have not been met or if entrants have violated contest rules. SFCG reserves the right to change criteria at any time. Winners will be announced by 8 August 2011.
Contest void where prohibited by law.