The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), in collaboration with ELS Educational Services, Inc., (ELS) organizes the “Many Languages, One World” Essay Contest, which will decide the winning delegates to be invited to a Global Youth Forum and preparatory conference to be held in New York in July of 2015.

The essay should relate to the post-2015 global development agenda, in the context of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, and the definition of new goals reflecting the imperative of global sustainable development that recognises, and is enriched by, cultural and linguistic diversity. Entries of up to 2000 words in length must be in an official language of the United Nations that is not the entrant’s first language or language of instruction in his or her primary or secondary education. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Eligibility
The contest is open to full-time college or university students, 18 years of age or older by March 25, 2015. A University Faculty Member or Authorized Representative must sponsor your participation in the contest and must attest that you are a full time student in good standing and that you are submitting an essay in an official language of the United Nations that is not your first language or principal language of instruction in your primary or secondary education.



Prize

ELS will pay for the Winners’ roundtrip economy class airfares in carriers of its choosing between the commercial airport nearest the Winner’s home city and New York, and be responsible for their travel, room and meals for the duration of the conference.

Application

In order to enter the contest you must follow the next steps:

Write your essay according to the contest rules and eligibility guidelines.
Show your essay to a University Faculty Member or Authorized Representative who can attest to the fact that you have followed the contest rules. Have that Faculty Member or University Administrator complete the Faculty/University Reference Form in support of your participation in the contest.
Once the Reference Form has been received and verified by Many Languages, One World, you will receive an email with further information, and a link where you can complete your Student Entry Form and upload your essay to the contest website.

The deadline is Wednesday March 25, 2015 at 11:59pm EST

Apply here: http://opportuniti.org/?p=459

pls i dont understand the part that says ' US official language that is not the applicant's first language'... pls xplain..