The British Red Cross have decided to launch a creative writing competition to coincide with the International Day of the Disappeared. This is a day for those to honour the missing throughout the world, those who have all but vanished in situations of violence and armed conflict.
Each year on 30th August, the International Day of the Disappeared presents a stark reminder that thousands of families across the world are still unaware to the fate of missing family members.
Emily Knox, who is head of the international family tracing service, said: “This competition offers a great way of encouraging people to actively engage with the spirit of the day, and show support for those whose loved ones are missing as a result of armed conflict.”
The theme for the competition this year is ‘Found’ and all entries – whether they be stories, poems or personal accounts – should be no more than 500 words. There competition is divided into two categories: adult and young persons (aged 18 or below on 30 August 2013).
The prize for each winning entry in category will receive a £100 Amazon gift voucher. There will also be two runners-up in each category; they will receive a £50 Amazon gift voucher.
The closing date for the competition is 18 July, with the two ultimate winners being announced on the day itself on 30 August.
The British Red Cross were responsible for finding 240 missing people in 2012. The main conflicts that separated these families were related to the situations in Afghanistan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka and the Second World War.
