Our legacy program is an annual essay contest for high school students. We are dedicated to representing unheard voices of refugees and recent immigrants to America. Safed House is focused on providing a secure platform where they can safely tell their human-interest narratives to an empathetic audience. With our youth program, the Safed House Essay Contest, we are helping young refugees find a way to belong and enhance their pursuit for their education. 

The 2018 essay contestants were announced  via a press release on June 20, 2018 on World Refugee Day. We publish our awards every year on World Refugee Day.  In 2018 Safed House was a co-sponsor for the World Refugee Day Phoenix event.  

• The contest is open to any student in high school who migrated to the US during their own lifetime.
• The essay should be about 500 words.
• The essay prompt for 2018: Describe and reflect on the journey the contestant took to travel to America.  What were your expectations before coming? And how have those expectations changed since living here?
• First prize is a $500 award. Winner is requested to be interviewed for a testimonial of their story on website.
• Second Prize is a $250 award. Winner is requested to be interviewed for a testimonial of their story on website.
• Three runners up, honorable mention and winners will receive free college essay mentoring from IVY-league graduate and novelist.

There will also be a ceremony in the Fall of 2018.  At this ceremony we show the videos conducted with the winners and we award the prizes.  More details to come on this.