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Elizabeth van der Valk
Jan 302 min read
Volunteer To Judge for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition
I am writing to highlight an opportunity to volunteer as a judge for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC). The QCEC, which...
768 views3 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Dec 13, 20246 min read
Our Year in Review
As we reflect on the past year, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters, volunteers, and partners for their...
435 views8 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Nov 21, 20242 min read
Her Majesty The Queen hosts a reception for winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024
Today, Her Majesty The Queen, as Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, hosted a reception for the winners and runners-up of The...
1,605 views9 comments
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Kingsley Sintim
Oct 1, 20244 min read
Empowering Young Voices: Reflections from Write Around the World Workshop in Maun, Botswana
On a sunny afternoon in May, I received an unexpected email from the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) inviting me to participate in a...
362 views2 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Sep 30, 20244 min read
Meet the winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024!
With a record-breaking 34,939 entries from all Commonwealth regions, we are delighted to announce the winners and runners-up of The...
23,082 views92 comments
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Esther Chantala Mungalaba
Jul 31, 20243 min read
What a time to be a QCEC Judge!
If the 34,000 entries this year are anything to go by, youth engagement is at an all-time high. I have ended each QCEC season honoured to...
1,749 views15 comments
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Emmanuel Nshimiyimana
Jul 1, 20243 min read
Empower youth through literacy and entrepreneurship in rural communities of Rwanda with the Rwanda Opportunities Organization (RwandOpp)
How I Started Rwanda Opportunities Organization (RwandOpp). Growing up in a rural community, I experienced firsthand the difficulties of...
171 views1 comment
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Mar 15, 20241 min read
Launch of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 – ‘Our Common Wealth’
We are delighted to announce that The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is now open for submissions. The theme for this year’s...
6,788 views8 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Dec 14, 20234 min read
QCEC Winners' Week 2023
In November, Shreeya, Siddhi, Kong and Mitali, the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023, were invited to London for...
7,175 views0 comments
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Madeleine Wood
Nov 6, 20234 min read
QCEC 2022 Junior Winner Madeleine Wood reflects on her winning entry
1. What are your memories of entering The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition? I began preparation in May of 2022. I spent many...
653 views0 comments
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Hiya Chowdhury
Oct 30, 20233 min read
Hiya Chowdhury looks back on how the competition has changed her life
Hiya Chowdhury, Senior Runner-up QCEC 2017, QCEC 2023 Final Panel Judge and published children’s author explains how the competition has...
981 views2 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Oct 1, 20234 min read
Meet the winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world's oldest international schools' writing contest, established by the...
2,506 views1 comment
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Raisa Gulati
Jun 26, 20233 min read
QCEC 2021 Junior Runner-up from India shares her experience of Winners Week and receiving her award
"Pussy cat, Pussy cat, Where have you been? I've been to London to look at the Queen. Pussy cat, Pussy cat, What did you do there? Oh! I...
733 views0 comments
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Aditi Nair
Jun 23, 20232 min read
QCEC 2021 Junior Winner Aditi Nair shares her experience of Winners Week
(Aditi receiving her award from Her Majesty The Queen (then Duchess of Cornwall) during an Award Ceremony at St James's Palace in 2021)...
739 views0 comments
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Amaal Fawzi
Jun 2, 20234 min read
Amaal Fawzi, Senior runner-up of the QCEC 2022, shares her experience of entering the competition
What’s your favourite book and why? My favourite book has to be ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak. I’ve read it four times and it only...
1,395 views0 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
May 8, 20231 min read
'Woven Legacy': A poem to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
A poem to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla by winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition: Amaal...
678 views24 comments
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Sawooly Li
Apr 21, 20233 min read
Sawooly Li, Senior Winner of the QCEC 2022 shares her experience of entering the competition
To mark World Creativity Day 2023, Sawooly Li, Senior Winner of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022 shares her experience of...
2,804 views0 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Oct 2, 20223 min read
Meet The Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world's oldest international schools' writing contest, established by the...
1,389 views0 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Jun 7, 20221 min read
Celebrating Commonwealth writing with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
On Saturday, 4 June 2022 Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society joined the BBC...
345 views0 comments
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Elizabeth van der Valk
Oct 3, 20213 min read
Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021
In 2021 we were thrilled to announce that a record-breaking 25,648 children entered The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021 from...
945 views0 comments
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