The Dove Foundation for Global Change has officially opened submissions for the 2025 Poetry Prize, an annual competition designed to celebrate the creativity, resilience, and perspectives of young women worldwide. This year’s theme, “Time,” invites participants to reflect on growth, memory, and transformation — exploring how far we’ve come and envisioning the journeys ahead.
Open to girls aged 13 to 21 from 34 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, the Poetry Prize seeks to amplify young women’s voices and empower them to express their experiences through the art of poetry. The initiative reflects The Dove Foundation’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of changemakers by providing a global platform for storytelling and creative expression.
The Dove Foundation Poetry Prize was founded to spotlight young women who use words to shape understanding, inspire empathy, and drive positive change. Recognizing poetry as both a personal and political form of expression, the competition aims to encourage dialogue across cultures and communities.
Each year, the foundation selects a theme that challenges entrants to reflect deeply on the world around them. For 2025, “Time” invites reflections on the passage of life, personal transformation, and collective evolution — encouraging young poets to draw from their unique cultural and personal experiences.
The competition is open to girls aged 13–21 who are citizens or residents of the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cambodia, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Republic of South Sudan, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Prize particularly welcomes entries from young women whose voices and experiences are underrepresented in global literature. Entrants may apply independently, or through their schools or parents.
Applicants must submit their poems via email to Prizes@dovefgc.org by December 1, 2025.
Each entry should include:
The poet’s full name, age, and country of residence
City and school (if applicable)
A short statement of motivation and future aspirations
Submission Rules:
Each participant may submit up to three original poems.
All poems must be unpublished and written primarily in English.
AI-generated content or previously published work will not be accepted.
Entries that have appeared on websites, social media, or other contests before January 2, 2026, will be disqualified.
The theme for 2025 is “Time”, encouraging poems that explore change, continuity, memory, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Winners will be announced on January 1, 2026, and will receive:
1st Place: £500
2nd Place: £250
3rd Place: £100
Mentorship: The top three winners will be paired with professional mentors for 6 to 12 months, receiving personalized guidance to refine their writing and grow as poets.
Additionally, up to 12 commended poems will be featured on The Dove Foundation website and included in future digital or print anthologies, giving young poets an international platform for recognition.
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The Dove Foundation Poetry Prize is more than just a competition — it’s a celebration of creativity, courage, and connection. It provides young women with an opportunity to express themselves, explore their identities, and connect with a global community of peers and mentors.
For many participants, this experience serves as a stepping stone toward a career in writing, activism, or social change. Above all, the prize reminds every young woman that her words matter — and that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for transformation.
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Email submissions to: Prizes@dovefgc.org
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