Behind the Sign

What’s really behind those widespread “Stop the Genocide” and “STAND for Darfur” signs?

Enter the “Behind the Sign” contest for a chance to be published in a book! Proceeds from the book sales will benefit the humanitarian efforts in the Darfur region. This is your chance to be a published author and inspire the youth of generations to come…

Purpose * Submit an Entry * Entries * Details, Rules, & Regulations

Purpose:

It is often perceived as idealistic and futile to tirelessly work toward peace and justice in our world. Understandably, it becomes disheartening to watch news of worldwide tragedy on a daily basis. But fortunately, within the walls of our schools and universities, there lies hope for our future. In the developing minds and the compassionate hearts of the youth of today, we find a power stronger than any other—the power of the willing.

The shameful acts of genocide taking place in the Darfur region have sparked an unprecedented student movement calling for an end to the injustice. STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition was formed out of this rapidly growing movement and works to unify and organize it by providing students with informational, educational, and organizing resources, empowering them through an extensive network of impassioned student activists and advocating for a change in the world’s mentality towards genocide. It is a coalition made by students, run by students, and sustained by serving others.   It is creating a new brand of activism.

Since STAND officially began in the spring of 2004, it has grown from one chapter to over 700 worldwide.  STAND students have divested 20 states and over 50 Universities from companies doing business in Sudan, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for civilian protection in Darfur, and sent thousands of letters to their elected officials. Now it’s time to understand how this movement formed. It’s time to learn about why, how, and who—who are these students with such a fervent power to mobilize an entire generation of youth? Who are these students with the willingness to stand up rather than stand by?

Help us to uncover these missing links. If you are a member of STAND, please tell us your story…

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Sumbmit an Entry

To submit your Behind the Sign entry, visit www.cradiance.com

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Entries:

Written Entries

To enter the “Behind the Sign” essay contest, please send in only one written entry per person. You must be between the age of 13 and 25 (as of December 5, 2007) and a reasonably active member of a registered STAND chapter and/or an anti-genocide organization.  Entries must be less than 1,000 words in length and can be written in either a narrative essay or poetic format. All entries must be submitted electronically via www.cradiance.com.

Photographic Entries

To enter the “Behind the Sign” photo contest, you may send in one photo entry per person, even if you have submitted a written entry.

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Details, Rules, & Regulations

Topic Examples

NARRATIVE ESSAY or POETRY PIECE

• What inspired you to become a student activist for the people of Darfur?
• How do you feel your role in the student movement makes an impact?
• Why do you continue to persist on the issue even in the face of slow progress?
• Why are you an anti-genocide activist?

PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE

• STAND in Action
• The Darfurian People
• The Student Activist

Entry Criteria

WRITTEN

• Entries may be accepted as either a narrative essay or a poem.
• Entries must be 1000 words or less
• The topic of entry is entirely up to the author and will be judged on relevance
• and audience impact.

PHOTO

• Entries may be accepted in either .jpeg, .bmp, .tiff, or .png format.
• Entries may be in either black and white or in color
• Entries must be at least 4” x 6” or 288 x 432 pixel
• Photographs must be your original piece of work.

Contestant Criteria

• RESIDENCE - There are no restrictions regarding residence area. “Behind the Sign” is an international contest and is open to all who qualify under the following criteria.
• AGE - Participants must be between ages 13 and 25 as of the deadline on December 5, 2007.
• EDUCATION - Participants must be enrolled or have recently graduated from either a public/private/home-schooled secondary education program or a 2-4 year accredited college/university undergraduate or graduate program.
• ACTIVE MEMBER - Participants should be reasonably active members of a registered STAND chapter and/or a coalition affiliated organization; Recently graduated alumni who were reasonably active on their campus STAND chapter are also eligible to enter the contest.

Prize

Your entry may be selected to be published in a book to be released in the summer of 2008. All proceeds from the book sales will benefit civilian protection efforts in the Darfur region.

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