National Peace Corps Association, World Policy Journal Partner on Essay Contest

Winning submission on improving food security in rural Africa to be published in fall issue of magazine

Washington, D.C.─ The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), the nation's leading nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community, announced today that it has partnered with World Policy Journal to launch an essay contest on June 1 to identify the most innovative solutions to the problem of food insecurity in the rural regions of Africa. The competition is part of NPCA's Africa Rural Connect online program, which brings people together from around the world to discuss innovative ideas to help rural Africa.

“The Africa Rural Connect program has already spurred a lot of creative thinking about ways in which the international community and others can help rural Africa,” said Kevin Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association. “This essay contest will take that same approach in a slightly different direction and we expect to receive a lot of innovative perspectives on this topic.”

NPCA chose a select panel of judges for the essay contest to include: David Andelman, editor of World Policy Journal; Emmy Simmons, former assistant administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development and independent consultant, and; Roger Thurow, former foreign correspondent with the Wall Street Journal and senior fellow on global agriculture and food policy with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. An edited version of the winning essay will be published in the fall issue of World Policy Journal. Runners up will appear on the websites of World Policy Journal (www.worldpolicy.org) and NPCA

(www.peacecorpsconnect.org).
The judging panel will select the top essay suggesting a unique initiative that African governments, private organizations, or individuals in the international community can implement to improve food security in rural Africa. Contest entries must be an 800- to 1,200-word essay in English using Associated Press style. The contest will run from June 1, 2010 to July 31, 2010 and the winning essay will be announced by Aug. 30, 2010.

“The World Policy Journal regularly features in each issue some of the best thinking from every continent on international issues,” said Andelman. “Based on the quality of ideas posted on the Africa Rural Connect website so far, we expect the winner of this contest will fit right in.”

To submit your entry and learn more about the contest, visit: http://www.AfricaRuralConnect.org/EssayContest

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About The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., NPCA is the nation's leading 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former volunteers through their continued service back home. It is also the longest-standing advocate on behalf of the Peace Corps and its values.

To learn more, visit: www.peacecorpsconnect.org