Pharos

Inaugural edition: Goal 2

Zero Hunger

This edition is based on UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

Opens 16 November 2026

Tile mosaic of a plate of nasi lemak: a dome of white rice, a halved egg, sambal, peanuts and cucumber slices on a banana leaf.

This edition is based on UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

A fundraiser for The Assembly Soup Kitchen (T.A.S.K)

Entry fees are paid straight to The Assembly Soup Kitchen (T.A.S.K) by bank transfer.

Deadline, 23:59 MYT
17 January 2027
Who
Students, in two categories
Length
Up to 800 words
AI
No AI-written essays

Two categories

  • Junior

    14 and under

    Prize USD 50

  • Open

    Students of any age

    Prize USD 100

Your age is your age on 17 January 2027. Both categories are for students only. Prizes are funded separately, not from entry fees.

The prompts

Write one essay, up to 800 words, on one of these three prompts.

  1. “Starvation is the characteristic of some people not having enough food to eat.”

    Amartya Sen

    The world produces enough food for everyone. Why do people still go hungry?

  2. Describe a meal you will never forget, and what it taught you about who gets to eat.

  3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says everyone has a right to food. If that's true, who is responsible when someone goes hungry, and what should they be made to do about it?

How it works

  1. Enter

    Check you're eligible, agree to the rules, and register.

  2. Write

    Write up to 800 words on one prompt, in your own words, and submit it by 17 January 2027, 23:59 Malaysia time (MYT).

  3. Judged against the rubric

    People score every essay against the published rubric. AI never scores essays.

  4. Results

    Winners are announced by 3 February 2027.

How essays are judged

Each essay is marked out of 100 against the four criteria below. Clarity of expression is valued over complexity of vocabulary: judges reward the quality of thinking, not the length of words.

  1. Response to the prompt30 marks

    • Addresses the prompt directly and engages with its full implications.
    • Sustains a clear and coherent line of argument throughout.
    • Draws conclusions that follow logically from the evidence presented.

  2. Insight and understanding30 marks

    • Uses evidence that is relevant, accurate and appropriately credited.
    • Demonstrates a secure understanding of the causes of hunger.
    • Develops ideas beyond the obvious, showing independent thought.

  3. Clarity and structure20 marks

    • Expresses ideas clearly, so that meaning is readily understood.
    • Purposefully structured: clear opening, development and conclusion.
    • Spelling, punctuation and grammar accurate; errors do not impede meaning.

  4. Voice and originality20 marks

    • Offers a distinctive and well-considered perspective on the prompt.
    • Writes in a confident, individual voice suited to audience and purpose.
    • Leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Total: 100 marks

All essays are assessed by human judges. AI is not used in scoring.

Download the judging criteria (PDF)

Where the money goes

Every USD 10 entry funds about 3 meals at T.A.S.K.

Entry fee: RM 40 (about USD 10). Fee support at 50%: RM 20 (about USD 5). You pay The Assembly Soup Kitchen (T.A.S.K) directly by bank transfer. Pharos never handles the money.

Rules and questions

The full rules and answers to common questions go up when entries open. Questions before then? Email pharosprize@gmail.com.

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