Think. Write. Change.

Carolina Wahlman has two homes. One is Stockholm, a big city where she attends SIS, but also a city where she has noticed how unfairly some people are treated just because of the colour of their skin. Her other home is Puerto Rico, a beautiful island filled with music, beaches, and sunshine—but also with big struggles. In Puerto Rico, the lights often go out because of power problems, and many children don't have enough food to eat.

Carolina wanted to do something about these problems, not just sit and wait for someone else to fix them. That’s when she founded her non-profit organisation, United We Stand (www.unitedwestandpr.org). Her dream was clear: end food insecurity in Puerto Rico and fight racism everywhere.

Her parents are her biggest supporters. They encouraged her, helped her, and cheered her on. 

Carolina also loves writing. She thinks writing can change the world because it allows people to share ideas, challenge unfairness, and inspire others. So she has come up with a fun idea: an essay competition! It's not going to be boring homework—it's a chance for students at SIS to become better writers and independent thinkers.

Carolina wants entrants to question the world around them, and to practice being persuasive. She has set the theme accordingly: "Can we have both freedom of speech at school and a welcoming environment, or can we only have one or the other?"

To make things even more exciting, prizes are on offer: US$500 for first place, $300 for second, and $100 for third. Independent judges will decide the winners.

Carolina is promoting the contest on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestandpr/), and hopes everyone will feel excited and enthusiastic. You can find out more about the comnpetition and Carolina's ambitions on the website https://unitedwestandpr.org/