HerVoice 2026 Writing Contest
HerVoice is EmpowerHer's creative storytelling platform where students share original writing and express themselves freely. We believe in the power of words to heal, connect, and inspire change.
HerVoice is directed by our CWS Mentor and Co-Founder, Nahid Karimi
About the Contest
EmpowerHer's HerVoice initiative aims to provide a space where Afghan girls can truly express their stories, feelings, and experiences freely. This contest is designed to reflect the realities Afghan girls and women are facing under the oppressive Taliban regime. Their educational, social, and economic lives have been shattered, and through this contest, we seek to share these narratives, commemorate the hardships Afghan girls and women continue to endure, and reward and recognize their resilience, courage, and motivation to push forward in the face of adversity.
Writing Prompt / Theme
"A time when you felt strength in being a woman/girl"
Who Can Participate
All Afghan girls and women regardless of any age can submit their writings. Men are not eligible.
You can submit your writings if you live in Afghanistan ONLY. Submissions from other countries are not accepted.
You must have an intermediate English level and be able to express your ideas and stories clearly without any help from AI (ChatGPT or any other platforms).
You must have a valid ID, contact information, and be able to receive our cash prizes, if you are selected as a winner.
Submission Requirements
Stories
Maximum 900 words (any type of writing; must be your original work and not written by Generative AI)
Poems
Maximum 40 lines
Submissions that exceed the stated word or line limits will not be accepted.
- Articles and biographies are not accepted. We value creativity and your ability to work with language to produce a meaningful and original piece of writing.
- All submissions must be original work written by the participant and not previously published elsewhere.
- Entries must be written in English.
- Each entry must have a title.
- Each participant may submit one entry only.
- Submissions must reflect the writer's own lived experience or personal perspective. Plagiarism or AI-generated content is strictly prohibited.
- Writing must align with the theme and purpose of the HerVoice Writing Contest.
- Submissions must be respectful and must not include hate speech, harassment, or harmful content.
- All entries must be submitted by the official deadline; late submissions will not be considered.
How to Submit
You must submit your written pieces by clicking on this form:
Submit Your EntryWe do not accept submissions through any of our email addresses. Please ONLY submit by clicking on the form above.
For any questions please email us at: hervoice@empowerher-initiative.org
Important Deadlines
Contest Opens
Application form goes live and submissions begin
Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by this date
Review Period
Judges evaluate all submissions
Notification Day
All participants receive an update on their submissions
Note: Deadlines are subject to extension if needed.
Awards & Recognition
We carefully review all submissions with full consideration of each participant's circumstances. From this contest, we will select 5 winners and 3 honorable mentions.
1st Place
US Dollars
2nd Place
US Dollars
3rd Place
US Dollars
4th Place
US Dollars
5th Place
US Dollars
All 5 cash prize winners and 3 honorable mentions will have their stories published on the HerVoice platform, sharing their voices with the wider EmpowerHer community.
Stories from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will also be featured on our partner organization's website, The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), reaching audiences in over 170 countries.
Cash prize winners and honorable mentions will be prioritized for future EmpowerHer workshops and opportunities to use our Student Project Roadmap to create their own impact projects. (Acceptance to workshops is not guaranteed, but their applications will receive priority consideration.)
Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $50 to $400 USD to support their educational and personal development goals.
Our Judges
Dr. Susan M. Blaustein
Dr. Susan M. Blaustein is the Founding Board Chair and President of WomenStrong International, a global nonprofit that supports local feminist leaders advancing the rights of women and girls worldwide. She previously co-founded and directed the Millennium Cities Initiative at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and has worked on conflict prevention and international justice with leading global organizations. A writer and journalist, she has reported on global politics and social justice for major publications including The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Blaustein teaches at Columbia University’s Climate School, holds a doctorate from Yale University, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has received numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Ban Ki-moon Award for Women’s Empowerment.
Dr. Ellen Leggett
Dr. Ellen Leggett is a psychologist with a lifelong passion for supporting the education of girls and women. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College, the first U.S. college founded for women, and was Associate Dean of Students at Scripps College, an esteemed California college for women. Most recently, she has been Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California and Founding Director of the Master's in Applied Psychology program there, where she has taught students from all over the world. She holds master's and doctoral degrees in Human Development and Education from Harvard University.
Dr. Sonia Palmieri
Associate Professor Dr. Sonia Palmieri is Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Coral Bell School of Asia and Pacific Affairs, Australian National University. Her research focuses on women’s leadership in political institutions, particularly gender-sensitive parliaments. She is a leading contributor to both the theory and practice of inclusive and feminist research methodologies.
Dr. Marilyn Sides
Dr. Marilyn Sides is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Wellesley College, where she also serves as Director of Creative Writing. She is affiliated with the Comparative Literary Studies Program. Marilyn is the author of the short story collection The Island of the Mapmaker’s Wife and the novel The Genius of Affection. At Wellesley, she teaches creative writing as well as literature courses.
Patrick M. Erwin
Patrick M. Erwin is the Curriculum Director at the Maxwell Leadership Foundation, with extensive experience in education and leadership development. He previously served 17 years as a high school band director in Cobb County, Georgia. Patrick holds degrees in Political Science, Music Education, and Leadership, and is an award-winning speaker who presents nationally on leadership, student engagement, and professional growth.
Andrew McPeak
Andrew McPeak is an author, researcher, and expert on emerging generations with over a decade of experience working with young adults across education and professional settings. He is the co-host of the School on a Mission Podcast, co-author of Marching off the Map (2017) and Generation Z Unfiltered (2019), and the author of Ready for Real Life (2023).
Bella Fisher
Bella Fisher is a junior at Miss Hall’s School in Massachusetts and grew up on a farm in Berkshire County. She has a strong interest in creative writing and the arts, particularly prose and fiction, and enjoys exploring literary and artistic projects. She is an editor at the literary magazine Girls Write the World, where she helps amplify young voices through writing and editorial work. Bella is passionate about supporting other young writers and aspires to publish her own work in the future.
Maia Roberts
Maia Roberts is a junior at Miss Hall's School, where she pursues advanced coursework in English and history with a particular focus on feminist studies. Her academic work has earned her placement on the Head’s List each semester of high school. She is an editor at the international literary journal Girls Right the World, where she contributes to elevating young voices through writing and editorial work. Maia believes in the importance of using literature and education to explore gender equity and amplify underrepresented perspectives.
Juliet Hopkins
Juliet Hopkins is a junior at Miss Hall's School and is originally from Rabun County, Georgia. She has a strong interest in creative writing and oil painting, and she balances her artistic pursuits with athletics as a varsity volleyball player. She is an editor at the literary magazine Girls Right the World, where she helps amplify young voices through writing and editorial work. Juliet believes in the importance of uplifting the voices of refugee girls and learning more about their experiences and backgrounds.
We thank our judges for their support of this contest and appreciate their time and effort to help Afghan girls share their voices globally.
Special thanks to our sponsors, the Solebury School community in Pennsylvania, United States, and Growing Leaders in Georgia, United States, for their generous donations to our efforts to uplift and support Afghan girls through HerVoice.