The student essay contest “We Are” has prepared a prize fund of over €5,000 for the best works on the topic “How to change our cynical worldview.”
The invitation is open to high school students in grades 8 through 12. The goal is to prepare an essay of up to 1,500 words analyzing the cynical worldview and contrasting it with a better alternative. The first step is to choose a positive word and put it in the title as a counterpoint to the usual negative phrases, for example: “We are inspired,” “We are good,” or “We are capable.” The essay may address the following questions:
Why does cynicism arise and what causes us to adopt it?
At what moments in life are we most susceptible to it?
Is cynicism contagious?
How does cynicism affect our personal and social development?
How can we build a culture of trust, respect, and optimism?
What specific actions can we take—as an idea, initiative, or personal example—to encourage a positive attitude around us?
The deadline for submitting entries is April 26, 2026.
The essay, together with the completed declaration form, should be sent in Word or PDF format to admin@c4bg.org.
An independent commission will select the winners of the first (€2,556/BGN 5,000), second (€1,534/BGN 3,000), and third (€1,023/BGN 2,000) prizes. The final results and the best essays will be published on the competition website on May 18, 2026.
The event is organized by Citizens for Bulgaria, in partnership with Together in Class, The Tireless, Sofia Platform, Tuk-Tam, and the Foundation “BEST – Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments”.
