"Beyond Our Walls"

About the Competition

The 2018 competition was shaped directly by a landmark in the church's year: the commissioning of our first international mission team, 22 volunteers preparing to travel to India in July. The theme — "Beyond Our Walls" — invited writers to explore how faith compels service not only within the familiar, but across borders, cultures, and comfort zones.

The competition drew 92 entries — the largest response to date — from students, young professionals, and community volunteers across Pokhara and surrounding districts. First-time entrants from outside the congregation made up nearly a third of submissions. The judging panel of six included a returned mission team member and a guest educator from Kaski district.

Competition Theme

How faith calls us to serve beyond the borders we know — beyond our neighbourhood, our language, our comfort — and what we carry back with us when we return.

Writers were encouraged to approach the theme through personal narrative, theological reflection, or a combination of both. Essays could address international service, cross-cultural encounter, or simply the act of stepping outside one's familiar community into the unknown.

Who Can Enter

• Open to young people aged 14 to 28 residing in Gandaki Province or enrolled in a Pokhara institution
• All faith backgrounds welcome
• Original, unpublished work; one submission per person
• Participants who have previously won an Olive Branch essay competition are not eligible for the prize, but may submit for recognition

Word limit: 800 – 2,500 words  ·  Language: English, Nepali, or bilingual

Criteria

All submissions are reviewed by a panel of church elders, educators, and community representatives. Entries are scored across four weighted criteria:

Deadlines