Youth Innovation Essay Prize

The Youth Innovation Essay Prize (also known as the Youth Innovation Prize or YIP) is an annual competition inviting young people aged 18–30 across South Africa to submit innovative ideas addressing a specific social challenge through written, audio, or video essays. It’s designed not just as a contest, but as a platform for youth voice, creativity and social impact.

The competition has been running since around 2021, in partnership with Bertha Centre and Douglas Knowledge Partners, and has grown from a regional to a national opportunity for emerging thinkers and communicators. Each year a different theme guides the entrants—for example the 2024 theme, “Innovations for Gender Equality”, was in partnership with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.

The competition goes beyond prizes: it’s also a development opportunity. Participants with the strongest submissions receive mentorship and coaching from experts in communication and social innovation, and shortlisted entrants gain exposure to a network of organisations that can open doors to further opportunities such as work, study or collaboration.

Visit the website here.