2026 YOUTH CLIMATE STORIES APPLICATION GUIDELINES

stories matter

guidelines

Climate Stories is a storytelling competition open to all youth aged 30 and under. Eligible contestants should submit their entries following these guidelines:

All stories must be original and may be submitted in English, Spanish, or French.
Stories must have a link to any of the GYCAF applicable categories (Figure 1).
Stories can be submitted in any format but must not exceed 1,000 words.
Formats can include video or audio, with a maximum length of 3 minutes.
All entries must be submitted via Google Forms.
ladybug, beetle, lucky charm, red, insect, dotted, blade of grass, grass, macro, happiness, garden, nature, environmental protection, bokeh, relaxation, quiet, ladybug, ladybug, ladybug, happiness, happiness, happiness, happiness, garden, environmental protection, quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet

CATEGORIES

Participants are invited to submit their stories under one of the following categories, each reflecting key areas of climate action and environmental stewardship. These categories are designed to showcase diverse perspectives and approaches to addressing environmental issues and opportunities.

Submit Your Story

*Special consideration will be placed on gender equality.

Youth Climate Stories
Two hands exchanging a small globe symbolizing global unity and ecology awareness.

TIMELINE

The Youth Climate Stories competition will open for submissions on June 5th and will close on June 19th. During this period, participants are encouraged to submit their original stories in accordance with the competition guidelines.

Following the submission deadline, entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the GYCAF core team and the Youth Fund Board. The winners will be announced at the end of June, and their stories will be published on GYCAF’s platforms shortly thereafter.

Note: Submissions have been extended to July 10th.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

We want the Climate Stories Competition to feel exciting, fair, and worth your time — so here’s everything you need to know, in plain language.

Your story stays yours: Submitting an entry doesn’t sign away your work. You keep full ownership of everything you write.
If you win, we’ll want to share it: Winners give GYCAF permission to publish, promote, and share their story on our website, social media, and campaign materials. We may make small edits for clarity or formatting, but your voice and message will always be respected.
Keep it original: Only submit work that is fully your own. Entries that include someone else’s content without permission will be disqualified.
A little legal housekeeping: By entering, you confirm that your submission doesn’t violate anyone else’s rights, and that GYCAF is not liable for any issues arising from your entry.

By submitting your story, you agree to these terms.

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