Empower Asian Pacific Youth: Support KAPWA

My name is Leonardo G. del Rosario and I am a sophomore at a high school in NYC. Here's why we need a writing scholarship for The KAPWA Project and why you should donate right now, even if it's as little as $50, $100 or as big as $250 or $2,500. Please consider donating today! $1,000 goes to a college scholarship and $500 goes to Ignatian Social Justice. All donors names will be recognized in the annual magazine.

Foundation: The KAPWA Project, initiated as my Eagle Project for GNYC Scouting America, aims to provide a platform for Asian Pacific high school students to share their unique stories, cultural pride, and achievements. Despite their influence (how many times have you had Asian food just this past month? Yet how many times have you read any story from the millions that make up our city's population?), these communities remain underrepresented, treated as a monolith, and this project strives to amplify their voices. Kapwa, a Filipino Indigenous Tagalog term that means shared identity and humanity, reflects the values of The Philippines and many indigenous tribes in the Asian Pacific. KAPWA also serves as an acronym for Kultural Asian Pacific Writers Association. One issue of the magazine will be published each December, starting in 2024, highlighting contributions from these vibrant communities.

We need to hear stories from our youth, and this is a way to encourage every member of the Asian Pacific heritage to speak up. Please click on our link and consider donating to our scholarship today!

Qualification for scholarship: Any high school student from sophomore to senior year who is a resident of New York City and identifies as Asian Pacific.

How to Apply: Submit a 700 to 1,500-word creative fiction, non-fiction, prose, or poetry piece by 6 PM, Monday, December 2, 2024, to Leonardo G. del Rosario via email.

Submission Requirements: Your submission must reflect on the theme of Immigration and/or the Environment. Top literary works by Asian Pacific high school students will be selected for publication and featured in the inaugural issue of The KAPWA Project magazine. The magazine will be released on December 19, 2024, during a symposium discussing modern Asian Pacific cultures and communities. The publication will feature works from students representing countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Taiwan, Myanmar, South Korea, Palau, Laos, and other Asian Pacific nations.

Magazine Selection Process and Award: Top literary works will be selected by The KAPWA Project Editorial Board, which consists of NYC high school students and advisors from different high schools. The student whose work is deemed most impactful will receive The KAPWA Project $1,000 Scholarship Award to be applied for tuition for education or training after high school graduation. The scholarship winner will be voted by the KAPWA Editorial Board. Selected pieces for publication and the scholarship winner will be announced on December 19, 2024, during the symposium.

KAPWA Symposium Launch Event: Join us for The KAPWA Project Symposium on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at The Browning School, 52 E 62nd St, NY, NY 10028. The event will include a panel of high school students whose heritage comes from diverse Asian Pacific nations discussing culture and media representation. There will be a potluck celebrating foods from across the Asian Pacific region.

Mission: The KAPWA Project empowers underrepresented Asian Pacific high school students in New York City by providing a platform to share their stories, celebrate their cultural heritage, and foster community through literary expression and scholarship.

For more information or questions, please contact Leonardo G. del Rosario or Antonio del Rosario.

To donate, please go to our GoFundMe page and search for The KAPWA Project.