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Public Presentation of 2025 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition at Cradle 2 Harvard International Schools, Abuja, Nigeria
The Country Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), Nigeria branch, Mr. Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi and some officials of the...
Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi
Apr 41 min read
400 views


'Dr Congo-man', Senior Winner of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2016
He might be dead. It’s dreadful but it’s true. Bobby, my younger brother, pulls at my hand and asks again, “Where’s Dr. Congo-man?” “I...
Inessa Rajah
Mar 275 min read
450 views


Launch of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025 – Our Commonwealth Journey
We are delighted to announce that The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is now open for submissions. The theme for this...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Mar 142 min read
2,856 views


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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Jan 302 min read
2,735 views


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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Dec 13, 20246 min read
990 views


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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Nov 21, 20242 min read
3,588 views


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...
Kingsley Sintim
Oct 1, 20244 min read
469 views

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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Sep 30, 20244 min read
34,546 views


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...
Esther Chantala Mungalaba
Jul 31, 20243 min read
2,129 views


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...
Emmanuel Nshimiyimana
Jul 1, 20243 min read
209 views


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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Mar 15, 20241 min read
8,169 views


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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Dec 14, 20234 min read
8,515 views


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...
Madeleine Wood
Nov 6, 20234 min read
778 views


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...
Hiya Chowdhury
Oct 30, 20233 min read
1,154 views


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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
Oct 2, 20234 min read
4,122 views


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...
Raisa Gulati
Jun 26, 20233 min read
797 views


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)...
Aditi Nair
Jun 23, 20232 min read
828 views


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...
Amaal Fawzi
Jun 2, 20234 min read
1,471 views

'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...
Elizabeth van der Valk
May 8, 20231 min read
717 views


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...
Sawooly Li
Apr 21, 20233 min read
2,874 views
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