IF YOU THOUGHT you wouldn’t get a chance to set your eyes on the Nobel Peace Prize, let alone be one of the people to receive it, you could be wrong (if you’re aged between eight and 24, we hasten to add).

Many Europeans were surprised by the announcement in October that the European Union was the latest winner of the prestigious award. The EU was chosen to receive the award for bringing peace following the catastrophic affects of World War II.

With so many citizens in the EU, there was obviously the question of who would be picking it up on behalf of all the countries – after all, there are 500 million people in the EU.

Contest

Now the EU has announced a drawing contest for young people aged between eight and 24, with the four winners attending the awards ceremony.

The full details are on the official Love Youth Future website, and the event is run in conjunction with the European Council, European Youth Forum, European Parliament, and European Commission.

Four Europeans will accompany EU leaders to collect the prize. To enter the competition to be one of them, you’re asked to send a drawing (if you’re aged between 8 and 12) or write a short piece (if you’re aged between 13 and 25), on the subject: What does peace in Europe mean to you?’

The European Youth Forum will pre-select the 16 best entries for each age group and a jury will select three final winners (one for each age group).

The 16 pre-selected entries from the categories 18-24 will also be posted on Facebook for a vote by the public. The candidate with the most votes will be invited to Oslo. This winner will also be invited to Strasbourg for a special event around the Nobel prize on 12 December, and so will the 9 runners-up.

European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will collect the prize – along with the four winners – in Oslo on December 10, with European Parliament President Martin Schulz and EU President Herman Van Rompuy.

The EU recently announced that it will be donating the prize money – €930,000 – to children affected by war.

Read: EU to donate Nobel prize money to children affected by war>

Read: So, how are you going to spend your share of the Nobel prize?>

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