1. Introduction


The "HoldMy Hand: Hear Me Out" competition, organised by Hold My Hand, a campaign incubated by the DG Murray Trust in support of the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), is a creative initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of South African children and teenagers. Participants are invited to express their perspectives through various mediums, sharing insights on their experiences and aspirations, in order to bridge the gap between children and teens and their parents and other adults.

2. Competition Objectives

•                   Empower children and teens to share their stories and viewpoints.

•                   Encourage creative expression across diverse formats.

•                   Foster intergenerational dialogue and understanding.

•                   Highlight the importance of listening to young voices in shaping a better future.

3. Eligibility

•                   Open to all South African residents aged 0 – 18 years.

•                  Participants under the age of 13 must have entries submitted by a parent, guardian, or educator.

•                  Employees of the DG Murray Trust,their immediate family members, and contracted consultants and suppliers are not eligible.

•                   Submissions featuring minors must have parental or guardian consent.

4. Submission Categories

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Participants can submit entries in the following formats:

•                   Visual Art: Drawings or paintings.

•                   Written Work: Poems, short stories, letters, or essays (max 500 words).

•                   Audio: Songs, raps, or voice notes (30 – 90 seconds).

•                   Video: Short videos (max 90 seconds).

5. Submission Process

•                   WhatsApp: Send your entry to 0600 411 111.

•                  Community Submissions: Schools, NGOs, and community centers may collect and submit entries on behalf of children and teens.

•                  Social Media: Post using hashtags #HearMeOut and #HoldMyHandSA, tagging official Hold My Hand pages. However, entries MUST still be submitted via WhatsApp to be valid.

•                  The HMH Comms Team will assist with this where WhatsApp access may be a challenge.

6. Judging Criteria


Entries will be evaluated based on:

•                   Authenticity: Genuine expression of personal experiences and thoughts (40%).

•                   Creativity: Originality and artistic expression (30%).

•                   Clarity: Clear communication of ideas and messages (20%).

•                   Engagement: Ability to resonate with and inspire others (10%).

7. Prizes

•                  Weekly Winners: Three participants will each receive R2,000. Totalling R36,000 over the six weekperiod.

•                  Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other alternatives.

8. CompetitionTimeline

•                   General Entries: 1 July – 8August 2025

9. ContentGuidelines

•                   Submissions must be original and unpublished.

•                   No AI-generated content is allowed.

•                   Content should not reveal sensitive personal details.

•                   Entries can be in any South African language (English translation encouraged).

•                   Content must be respectful, inclusive, and child-friendly.

•                   Harmful, violent, or discriminatory content is prohibited.

10. Permissions& Rights

•                  Participants grant permission fortheir content to be used in campaigns, educational materials, and promotional content.

•                  Participants retain intellectual property rights but grant Hold My Hand a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, modify, and publish the content on their various communication platforms.

11.Disqualification


Submissions may be disqualified if:

•                   They contain plagiarised or AI-generated content.

•                   They violate content guidelines.

•                  Multiple entries from the same person are submitted after already being selected as a winner.

12. Winner Selection & Prize Distribution

•                   Winners will be notified withinone week of the announcement.

•                  If a winner is unreachable within three working days, an alternative winner may be selected.

•                   Prizes are non-transferable and non-refundable.

•                  Prize payment processing may take up to two weeks and is dependent on documentation being received by DGMT timeously from winners.

13. Privacy & Data Protection

•                   The competition adheres to South African data protection laws (POPIA).

•                   Personal data will be used solely for competition purposes.

•                   Participants can request access to, or deletion of, their personal data.

14. Publication of Winners

•                  By entering, participants consent to the publication of their names and likenesses on Hold My Hand platforms.

•                   Participants can opt out of promotional use by submitting a written request.

15. General Provisions

•                   The organiser may amend or cancel the competition at any time.

•                  The organiser’s decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the competition.

16. Schools/Community Edition

•                  A schools and community edition will launch at a later stage that will allow for both the learner and the school being awarded a prize.

•                  More information will follow.

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