I am proud to have been involved in Umoja Writing Competition again this year.
Here is the last post about the competition for the 2015 comp:
https://umojawritingcomp.wordpress.com/2015/11/25/meet-our-winner-kirsten/
Starting a writing competition seemed like an easy thing before I began. I soon found out that it’s difficult to publicise with so many other things online. To make this competition stand out I had to make people aware that it was a worth literary competition, but also a fundraiser for a worthy cause. Ultimately, even the cause had a lot of competition. With so many fundraising ventures around the world there’s a lot of pressure to explain why this one means so much. There are many (too many) underprivileged people, so which cause to choose? Some people like donating to animal funds (I also support RSPCA and The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust), some people donate to cancer or health causes, some people like to help refugees (and there are plenty at the moment), some people prefer to help their own backyard first (Australia) – all extremely worthy causes.
So why Umoja Orphanage Kenya?
For me it’s a life dream. I’ve always been fascinated in Africa. I could thank my Dad and the Tarzan movies we used to watch, but I think it’s deeper than that. We are all Earth’s people. We feel a connection to our own country (and I love Australia and am proud to be Australian) but we can also be connected to our wider world. For me it’s Africa. Maybe in a previous life I lived there. I’m not too sure why I feel I have to protect that area of Earth. Africa not only has some of the most unique animals on Earth (some close to extinction) but also some of the happiest but most hardshipped people. I like the idea of our world being united, particularly Australia and Africa. Then I came across Umoja, which means just that – unity.
Combined with writing
Combine that unity with my love of writing and Umoja Writing Competition was born. I’ll be looking for new ways to run this year’s competition to maximise what we can do for Umoja Orphanage Kenya. I’m not alone. As the competition has progressed more people have come in support.
Please let me know any ideas you may have. I’d appreciate any input from writers and supports of a united world. Help the competition be a success next year. Please go to the page and Follow. Thank you.
