Write us a story and win an iPad for you and your school!

This competition is now closed.

Jewish News is calling on budding writers to pen their thoughts on courage for their chance to win an iPad for themselves and their school!

We have teamed up for our third Young Writers Competition with WIZO, the Women’s International Zionist Organisation, and PJ Library, which distributes stories celebrating Jewish values and traditions to more than 8,000 children across the UK.

WIZO is the largest independent social welfare organisation in Israel, supporting more than 800 projects across the country at every stage of life.

These include day care centres for children, emergency centres for babies and children at risk, youth villages for vulnerable teenagers and more than 100 after-school programmes.

The charity also provides additional services, including support for single parent families, foreign language groups for immigrants, shelters for victims of domestic violence and a retirement home.

‘WIZO taught me to be brave’: Yonatan’s story

I never knew my father. My mother couldn’t look after me, so I had to live in an orphanage. When I was three, my mother came back for me and we went to Israel. I had never been to Israel before.

We had no money and all six of us had to live in a tiny apartment with one room. It was very dark. I only went out to try to find food for my family and I kept everything I could find in my suitcase.

My suitcase was my friend. My mother became ill soon after we arrived in Israel and she couldn’t manage. Then I broke both my legs in a bad accident. I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything.

When WIZO found me, I was very sad, frightened and lonely.They took me to a WIZO boarding school, looked aer me and taught me to be brave. Now I am 10, doing well at school and have lots of friends. I try to help the other children with their problems.

I tell them: “You have to be brave.”

TIPS FOR INSPIRATION:

• What does courage mean to you?
• Do you know someone who is courageous?
• When have you witnessed acts of courage/bravery?
• Why do we need courage?
• What different types of courage are there?

Here’s How To Enter:

Simply write a story or poem about courage – either when you, someone you know, or a fictitious character showed they were courageous – in no more than 300 words.

The competition is open to boys and girlsin two categories: primary (ages seven to 11) and secondary (ages 11 to 18).

The prizes include an iPad for the winner in each category and one for their school, while runners-up will receive a PJ Library Goody Pack (in the primary category) or book tokens (in the secondary category), as well as a selection of books for their schools.

Closing date: 4 June 2021