Disclaimer: Please review the terms and conditions located at the conclusion of the guidelines.
Background
The GYCAF believes in the power of storytelling to inspire change and action among the youth. With this in mind, we want to develop a storytelling platform that will enable us to achieve the following objectives:
Gather stories from the youth about how they are involved in climate and environmental action,
Publish youth climate stories on our platforms and inspire our audience to take direct action in their communities.
Highlight the different contexts of climate change around the world, especially in the most vulnerable nations.
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.
Selection
Two (2) stories will be chosen as winners and will receive special publication in all of GYCAF’s social media pages.
1st place: Monetary prize, e-certificate and a sustainable water bottle.
2nd place: E-certificate and a sustainable water bottle.
If chosen as winner, an additional interview might be required to develop the story further and present it in the best, most impactful, way possible.
The winners will be selected by representatives from the GYCAF core team, along with members of the 2025 Youth Fund Board.
The selection of winners shall be based on the following criteria:
20% Communication: Was the storyteller able to convey a story within the set guidelines?
20% Creativity: How engaging is the story? What makes it unique from the competition?
20% Impact: Which story do you remember the most?
20% Relatability: Which story is most relatable and will possibly attract traffic to our public platforms?
20% Relevance: How relevant is the story to the current climate situation?
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.
Timeline
The Youth Climate Stories competition will open for submissions on January 6th and will close on January 24th. 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 in March, and their stories will be published on GYCAF’s platforms shortly thereafter.
Terms and Conditions
By submitting an entry to the Climate Stories competition, participants agree that if their story is selected as a winner, they grant GYCAF a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, distribute, and publicly display their stories in all media formats, including but not limited to GYCAF’s website, social media platforms, and promotional materials.
This license allows GYCAF to edit, modify, and adapt the stories as necessary to ensure clarity, impact, and consistency with the organization’s messaging. Winners retain the copyright to their original work, but GYCAF reserves the right to use the winning submissions for any purposes related to promoting the campaign and the organization’s mission without further consent or compensation.
Furthermore, participants must ensure that their submissions are original and do not infringe upon any third-party rights, including but not limited to copyright, trademark, or privacy rights. Any entry found to be in violation of these terms will be disqualified from the competition. By entering the competition, participants also agree to indemnify and hold GYCAF harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from their submission.
These terms and conditions are designed to protect both the participants and GYCAF, ensuring a fair and transparent competition process while promoting the valuable stories of youth climate action.