Poetry Prize 2025
The Dove Foundation Poetry Prize celebrates the voices of young women across the globe. We believe that poetry has the power to inspire, challenge, and transform, and we are committed to providing a platform for girls to share their stories, creativity, and perspectives.
Eligibility
The prize is open to girls aged 13 to 21 from the following countries:
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cambodia, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Republic of South Sudan, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
This prize seeks to amplify the voices of young women from diverse cultures, experiences, and communities.
Submission Guidelines
To enter the competition, submissions must be sent via email to Prizes@dovefgc.org. For your submission to be valid, please include the following information:
The country you are applying from.
Your age and city.
Your motivations and aspirations for the future.
Entrants may submit their poem independently, or schools and parents may submit on behalf of students and school-leavers.
All poems must adhere to the following rules:
Poems must be written primarily in English.
Poems must be the entrant’s original work.
AI-generated work is prohibited.
Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website, made public on social media, broadcast, or featured among the winners in another competition before 2nd January 2026.
Each participant may submit a maximum of three poems.
Competition theme: Time
All submissions must be received by December 1st.
Prize Details
Winners will be announced on January 1st.
1st place: £500
2nd place: £250
3rd place: £100
All top three winners will also receive a mentor for 6 months to a year, providing guidance, support, and development opportunities.
A selection of up to 12 other poems will be commended and showcased.
Selected poems will be showcased on the Dove Foundation website and in other publications.
Why Enter
The Dove Foundation Poetry Prize is more than a competition; it is a platform to share your voice with the world, celebrate creativity, and inspire others. Whether you dream of a career in writing, activism, or any other field, this prize is an opportunity to showcase your talent, express your vision, and be part of a global community of young women making their voices heard.
Read More
Submission Guidelines
To enter the competition, submissions must be sent via email to Prizes@dovefgc.org. For your submission to be valid, please include the following information:
The country you are applying from.
Your age and city.
Your motivations and aspirations for the future.
Entrants may submit their poem independently, or schools and parents may submit on behalf of students and school-leavers.
All poems must adhere to the following rules:
Poems must be written primarily in English.
Poems must be the entrant’s original work.
AI-generated work is prohibited.
Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website, made public on social media, broadcast, or featured among the winners in another competition before 2nd January 2026.
Each participant may submit a maximum of three poems.
Competition theme: Time
All submissions must be received by December 1st.
Prize Details
Winners will be announced on January 1st.
1st place: £500
2nd place: £250
3rd place: £100
All top three winners will also receive a mentor for 6 months to a year, providing guidance, support, and development opportunities.
A selection of up to 12 other poems will be commended and showcased.
Selected poems will be showcased on the Dove Foundation website and in other publications.
Why Enter
The Dove Foundation Poetry Prize is more than a competition; it is a platform to share your voice with the world, celebrate creativity, and inspire others. Whether you dream of a career in writing, activism, or any other field, this prize is an opportunity to showcase your talent, express your vision, and be part of a global community of young women making their voices heard.