Piece of Me Project: Essay Competition

Piece of Me Project is an annual essay competition where individuals share their personal stories and reflections on a disease or condition that has had a significant impact on their lives or the lives of those they care about. Each year, participants submit essays that combine storytelling, personal connection, and advocacy into a single narrative. Through these essays, writers highlight a disease, their experience with it, and either propose an organization or initiative, or a current one that is working to make a difference in the fight against it.

This project provides a platform for people to raise awareness, inspire change, and connect with others who have been affected by similar challenges.

Why Writing Matters

At the heart of the Piece of Me Project is the belief that writing is not only a tool for storytelling, but also a powerful path to healing. Sharing your story can help process pain, make sense of experiences, and connect with others who’ve walked similar paths. Writing creates space to reflect, to remember, and to rebuild.

“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”
— Graham Greene

Through every piece submitted, participants take one more step toward understanding themselves and the world around them. Each story is not only an act of vulnerability—it's an act of courage, and a spark of change.

Your Piece Matters. Always.

How It Works

The Piece of Me Project is an annual essay competition open to individuals of all ages around the world. Each year, participants are invited to submit powerful, personal essays that reflect on a disease or condition that has impacted their lives or the lives of those they love. These essays weave together lived experience and advocacy, either by proposing a new initiative or highlighting an existing organization that is creating meaningful change in the fight for better health, awareness, and support.

Important 2025 Dates:

  • Submissions Open: June 1, 2025

  • Priority Deadline: July 15, 2025

  • Final Deadline: August 25, 2025

  • Winners Announced: September 10, 2025

The Essay:

Essays should be between 700 - 1,500 words, not including references (If references are needed, you may include any academic references to support your essay.)

The essay should incorporate the following elements:

  1. Personal Connection: Why this disease or condition is meaningful to the writer and how it has impacted their life or the life of someone they love. This disease or illness could be anything from cancer to something invisible, like depression or anxiety.

  2. Advocacy: The essay should highlight an organization or initiative that is working toward a cure or providing support. If no such organization exists, the writer is encouraged to imagine one they would create to address the issue.

  3. Storytelling: The essay should seamlessly blend personal narrative with advocacy, showing how the writer’s experience and the organization’s work connect and create a powerful call for action.

Submit Your Essay Below

The Judging Process

Each season, submitted essays will be carefully evaluated by a panel of judges based on:

  • Impact: The emotional power and relevance of the personal connection.

  • Storytelling: The ability to weave together personal experience and advocacy in a compelling, heartfelt narrative.

  • Creativity: The originality of the essay, including how participants highlight organizations or imagine solutions to health issues.

  • Clarity & Structure: How well the essay is organized and how effectively the writer communicates their message.

At the end of the judging period, 4 main winners will be selected—whose essays will be published on the Piece of Me Project website. These winners will have the opportunity to share their powerful stories with a wider audience, inspiring others and contributing to the ongoing conversation about important health issues.

Piece of Me Puzzle Piece:

To honour all participants, everyone who submits an essay will receive a Piece of Me Puzzle Piece to celebrate their contribution and participation in the movement. Depending on the quality and impact of their submission, participants will be awarded one of the following:

  • Gold Piece of Me Puzzle Piece: For essays that stand out as exceptional—powerful, insightful, and inspiring.

  • Silver Piece of Me Puzzle Piece: For essays that demonstrate solid storytelling and a clear, thoughtful connection to the chosen cause.

  • Bronze Piece of Me Puzzle Piece: For essays that showcase a heartfelt story, with room for growth and improvement in storytelling or clarity.

Each Piece of Me Star will be displayed next to the participant's name on the website, a proud symbol of their dedication to raising awareness and inspiring change. The puzzle piece represents how every story fits into something bigger.


Your Judges

The judges of the Piece of Me Project are deeply passionate about the mission at the heart of this initiative.

Each of them believes in the transformative power of personal storytelling—how it can heal, inspire, and spark real change.

They are committed to honoring every writer’s courage in sharing their experiences and to uplifting the voices that highlight the realities of living with or supporting someone through illness.

The judges recognize that every story is a vital thread in building a more compassionate and informed world, and they are proud to support a project that empowers individuals to turn their pain into purpose.

Who we are

Piece of Me Project is a youth-led essay competition created to raise awareness about diseases that have deeply affected our lives—whether it's something we’ve personally battled or something a loved one has faced. Each month, we highlight a different illness and invite people of all ages to submit essays that explore their connection to it—blending personal experience with hope, advocacy, and a desire for change.

This project was started because at times when everything feels like it may be falling apart, writing can give you clarity. Writing can become more than just words on a page—it can be a way to cope, to heal, and to feel heard.

I started Piece of Me Project because I believe writing has the power to save, to connect, and to inspire. And through this platform, I want to help others find that same strength. Whether you're raising awareness, honouring someone you love, or searching for meaning through your own story—this project is your space to speak, to share, and to be part of something bigger.

Speak out - The bigger picture

At its core, the Piece of Me Project is more than just a writing competition — it’s a way of coping, a step toward healing. Sharing personal experiences about disease, illness, or caregiving can be incredibly therapeutic, offering a safe space to process pain, make sense of complex emotions, and find connection with others who understand. Writing helps externalize emotions that are often difficult to speak aloud, creating a bridge between isolation and community.

We recognize that reflecting on difficult memories can bring up intense feelings. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges because of a personal experience with illness, please know that you are not alone. There are people ready to listen and help.

If you need support, please reach out:

Your mental health matters. Seeking help is a sign of strength — and your story is a testament to resilience.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to us through email, and stay connected with the Piece of Me Project through our social media pages!