Calling all high school students. Do you have something to say about basic income?
We have an exciting opportunity! The 2024 Basic Income Forum is hosting two contests just for you.
Young people are often left out of discussions and decisions about economics, poverty and fairness.
But we face a lot of economic challenges. For example, the collective Canadian student debt of $23.5 billion in student loans as of July 2022, or the fact that young people are more likely working unstable and underpaid jobs.
Knowing this, and experiencing it ourselves, we think it’s time for young voices to be heard in conversations that affect our future.
This is why we joined the Basic Income Canada Youth Network, a group of young people from across the country advocating for a basic income. A basic income is an unconditional cash transfer from government to individuals to enable everyone to meet their basic needs, participate in society and live with dignity — regardless of work status. Basically, it’s money from the government that helps everyone afford what they need to live. A social safety net that ensures that nobody gets left behind or falls through the cracks.
We think a basic income could be transformational for young people. Implementing a basic income would help provide an additional level of security for youth entering an increasingly inaccessible rental and housing market. It would make it easier for youth to pursue and remain in post-secondary education. It would also help youth leave unsafe work situations, support youth aging out of care who are cut off from other supports, relieve financial pressure for youth with increased caregiving responsibilities, and help support LGBTQ youth to leave non-affirming or unsafe environments.
But we need to hear from more youth about their thoughts on basic income.
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That’s why we are inviting all high school students across the country to participate in two contests organized through the May 2024 Basic Income Forum: an artistic expression contest and an opinion-editorial writing contest.
In the artistic expression contest, students are invited to submit creative works in categories such as poetry, video, visual art and music, reflecting the theme, “Imagining Basic Income: Artistic Visions for a More Equitable Canada.”
In the opinion-editorial contest, students are invited to write a maximum 500-word essay on “Why a Basic Income will be important to Canada in the next decade.”
Expert panels will evaluate submissions based on creativity, clarity, originality and depth of analysis. Winners in each contest will gain national exposure through the Basic Income Forum website and receive tailored prizes. The winning submission in the opinion-editorial will be published online on Metroland’s news sites.
The winning students in each category will also have the opportunity to participate in the Basic Income Forum in May, when the winners will be formally announced.
Check out forum2024.ca/contests/ for more details.
The submission deadline is May 1. Send yours to tom@forum2024.ca.
