DStv Eutelsat Award for African Secondary School Students with Interest in Technology (Fully-funded to Paris, France) 2018

Secondary Students are eligible for the greatest experience of a lifetime if they can be inspired to create an award winning essay or poster on what satellites can do for the African continent.

Application Deadline: 12th February 2018

Eligible Countries: Awards are open to all countries in Africa where MultiChoice Africa maintains operations.

To be taken at (country): Paris, France

About the Award: The DStv Eutelsat Star Awards are calling all science and technology fans between 14 and 19 to be inspired to write a creative essay or design a poster based on the following topic: “Take yourself into the future as a scientist, tasked with designing a new-age satellite that will help improve the lives of Africans. Tell us what you would call your satellite and describe the different functions and roles that it would play in the Africa of the future.”

MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat are convinced by the power of science and technology education to encourage young minds to positively change their world. Now in its 6 th year, their joint initiative, the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, inspires innovative thinking among a new African generation. This pan-African collaboration has created a meaningful engagement with students, the academic community and the scientific world. Since the start of the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards competition in 2011, over 5,000 students have taken part in this unique competition.

TOPIC

It’s sixty years since the first satellite Sputnik was launched, broadcasting a unique and easily captured ‘beep, beep, beep’ signal.

Looking back at this historic moment, write an essay or design a poster depicting how satellites have launched humankind into the 21st century and acted as a unifier.

Offered Since: 2011

Type: Contest

Eligibility: 

• The Awards are open to students between 14 and 19 years of age in secondary, high or combined schools anywhere in Africa where MultiChoice operates.
• Entries can be submitted in English, French or Portuguese.

Selection Criteria:  Entries will be judged on the basis of high-standard criteria of accuracy, structure, language, creativity, innovation and referencing.

Criteria for Essay:

• Language: English, French or Portuguese
• Length: 1200 – 1400 words
• Must be typed in Arial 12, 1.5 spacing and pages to be numbered or it must be handwritten, but clearly legible
• Pages must be numbered
• Only hardcopy entries will be accepted.
• Entries may include illustrations, graphics, or diagrams
• References (all sources consulted during the preparation of the entry)

Criteria for Poster:

• Design a creative poster by illustrating an idea on the competition topic. The poster must be accompanied by a creative explanation/summary in the following format:
  • Title
  • Summary idea/concept
  • Explanation of idea
  • References (all sources consulted during the preparation of the entry)
• Language: English, French or Portuguese

Number of Awardees: 4: 1 winner and 3 Runners-up

Value of Award: The overall essay winner will be eligible for a once in a lifetime trip for two to Paris, France to visit Eutelsat satellite facilities, with the essay winner also traveling to see a rocket launch into space. Runners-up will win a trip to South Africa to explore several sites as guests of MultiChoice Africa. The schools attended by the four overall winners also receive a DStv installation, including a dish, TV, decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.

How to Apply: For an entry form – which will tell you everything you need to know – visit your nearest MultiChoice Office or download it here. South African entrants can collect a copy from MultiChoice Africa, 251 Oak Avenue in Randburg, Johannesburg.

Entries must be:

• Deposited: in the entry box at MultiChoice Africa country or regional offices (African countries) OR for South Africa at the MultiChoice Africa Building, 251 Oak Avenue in Randburg, Johannesburg (South Africa only).
• Posted: 
  • To MultiChoice offices listed on the entry form. For South African entries only : To MultiChoice Africa, 251 Oak Avenue in Randburg, Johannesburg. Attention: Lebogang Ramothata
  • All entries must be accompanied by an entry form and in the case of posters an entry form and creative summary.
  • For queries you may email your question to: Dstvstarawards@multichoice.co.za or phone your nearest MultiChoice Office. In the case of South Africa, please contact Mahlatse Sithole on 011 781 9950

Visit Program Webpage for details

Award Provider: MultiChoice Africa Limited (DStv) and Eutelsat

Important Notes: Only entries submitted on the official entry form will be eligible. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in February 2017.