The Rumi Forum, an international organization established by Turks living in Washington, D.C., to foster intercultural dialogue, has chosen the Hizmet movement and solutions to today’s problems as the topic for this year’s essay contest.

The forum stated in a press release that the Hizmet Essay Contest is a contest series that encourages research on the Hizmet movement and Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. “The contest aims to motivate individuals to research the works of Gülen and the activities of various Hizmet institutions locally and globally, with the purpose of addressing how the Hizmet movement contributes to the individual, the community, society and the world in general,” the forum stated.

Participants for this year’s essay contest are asked to evaluate the societal impact of the activities of the Hizmet movement and the ideas of Gülen in solving the societal problems at the local, national or international levels.

Contestants are encouraged to focus on two topic areas: specific focus and conceptual focus. In specific focus, essayists are expected to dwell on the activities of the Hizmet movement in areas of peace building, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, education, relief work and other initiatives of the movement in different parts of the world such as the US, Turkey, the Balkans, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. In conceptual focus, they must look at how the teachings and writings of Gülen lay the foundation of the Hizmet movement’s initiatives and hence contribute to producing solutions to societal issues.

Essays must be no fewer than 3,000 and no more than 4,000 words in length and must be submitted by Aug. 31.

Entrants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that awards bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees. The contest is open only to US citizens and legal residents of the US.

Undergraduate winners will be awarded $1,500, while graduate winners will receive $2,000.