Peace Corps Writing Olympics

Last Wednesday Tim and I hosted a writing competition in one of the local high schools. The competition is an international writing competition held in several Peace Corps countries, and it is called the International Writing Olympics. Each student had one hour to respond to one of three prompts from his or her grade level. Next weekend, their essays will be judged against other students’ from Moldova, and those winners will be judged against the winners in several Peace Corps countries as far away as Cambodia.

This project is so great because it is all about developing creativity. Every student knows that each essay will not be judged on grammar or spelling, but on the level of creativity that he or she reaches for. I love projects that focus on altering the perceptions and thinking processes of young people because I feel that is where the most lasting impressions are made.
The competition was for students from grades six to 12. We had 13 students. I know we had several twelfth-graders, and we had to pry the essay out of the hands of our seventh-grader at the end of the hour. He even put a title for his essay on the front of his notebook! All the students from the four high schools in our town were invited, and the most showed up from Tim’s school and the school where Orhei has a Fulbright Scholar. I think that really shows how instrumental volunteers are in bringing these programs to the schools and getting the word out.
The national judging will occur in mid-April, and the winners will be invited to a reception at Peace Corps the next weekend where the international winners are announced. Keep your fingers crossed for our students! I know they are really talented, and they were all there because they really love learning English.