Nowadays, environmental issues are important problems that all of the public should be aware of.

This week, LIFT is launching the “Waste Management” competition, an essay contest about waste management for young people who care about the environment and want to share their opinion on the subject.

The competition was initiated by Fulbright & Undergraduate State Alumni Association of Cambodia, a group of Cambodian youth recipients of the American SUSI scholarship with the support of the US embassy and the University of Montana.

“The purpose of the competition is to raise awareness about waste management in Cambodia since recycling still poses a problem,” says Sok Eng, one of the organizers of the competition.

“If people do not get soon what is at stake with waste management, it will affect citizens’s health and ruin the city’s scenery,” says Sok Eng.

Candidates participating to the competition must be aged between 16 and 25 and submit a 1000 to 1500-word essay in English or a 5 to 10-page essay in Khmer.

The winner will recieve an 800,000 riel award. Second place will receive 600,000 riel and third place 400,000 riel. Winners will also get a certificate of their participation.

People interested in joining the competition can send their essays by 31 January 2013 to: [email protected].