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AL LINA · EDUCATION PRIZES

Ideas that include.
Learning that lasts.

Three education prizes. Three ways to make a difference.

A first edition celebrating practical ideas from school students, university students and teachers in Lebanon. Entry is free. Applications are not open yet.

Explore the three prizesView Prize Calendar
APPLICATIONS NOT YET OPEN · Launch is subject to secured funding, final documents and readiness

Choose your prize

Three categories, one shared set of rules. Choose the prize that fits your work. The eligibility rules below are approved. Applications are not open yet.

School prize

Young Community Changemakers
Who can apply School students aged 14–17 in grades 9–12 or equivalent, assessed at final submission.
Location Applicants of any nationality who live in Lebanon. Eligibility is assessed at final submission.
Nomination route Individual entry or a team of 2–5 eligible people. Every entrant under 18 needs parent or legal guardian permission. One team representative handles communication; detailed guardian arrangements will be provided before opening.
Eligible work Up to two pages, an illustrated poster with a short explanation, or up to three minutes of audio. No fieldwork or spending required.
Proposed awards 1st: USD 5,000
2nd: USD 2,500
3rd: USD 1,500
Per winning entry; teams share the cash prize equally. Awards remain subject to secured funding and final award terms.
Application School prize registrationApplications are not open yet.
Full brief Read Young Community Changemakers nomination information →

The entry brief

Identify a community problem and propose a realistic improvement that helps people learn or participate. No spending, fieldwork or completed project is required.

Up to two pages, an illustrated poster with a short explanation, or up to three minutes of audio. Explain the need, who benefits, your idea, materials needed and how you would notice success. A model may be photographed without people in the image.

Guardian permission is required for every entrant under 18. Detailed guardian arrangements will be provided before opening.

Ideas to explore

Illustrative topics, not an exhaustive list or a confirmed set of subcategories. Choose one focused idea that fits the category brief; alternatives may be considered under the final rules.

  • Learning access: A simple way to help classmates find or use learning materials, including low-connectivity options.
  • Clearer community information: A student-created guide, poster or audio idea that makes useful information easier to understand.
  • Inclusive participation: A realistic school or community activity that reduces barriers to taking part. No fieldwork or spending is required.

University prize

Skills That Open Doors
Who can apply Students aged 18 or older enrolled in a university or equivalent institution, assessed at final submission.
Location Applicants of any nationality who live in Lebanon. Eligibility is assessed at final submission.
Nomination route Individual entry or a team of 2–5 eligible people, with one representative for communication.
Eligible work Teaching plan up to three pages, one sample activity and a brief budget if proposing a pilot. No live pilot required.
Proposed awards 1st: USD 5,000
2nd: USD 2,500
3rd: USD 1,500
Per winning entry; teams share the cash prize equally. Awards remain subject to secured funding and final award terms.
Application University prize registrationApplications are not open yet.
Full brief Read Skills That Open Doors nomination information →

The entry brief

Design a short, accessible learning resource that teaches a practical skill, from spreadsheet basics to workplace communication. Work with the equipment learners actually have.

A teaching plan of up to three pages, one sample activity and a brief budget if a pilot is proposed. Include learning goals, accessibility adaptations and a simple check of learning. A written or audio explanation can replace polished slides. No live pilot or external partner is required.

Ideas to explore

Illustrative topics, not an exhaustive list or a confirmed set of subcategories. Choose one focused idea that fits the category brief; alternatives may be considered under the final rules.

  • Everyday digital skills: Teach a practical skill such as spreadsheet basics, document organisation or safe use of digital tools.
  • Communication for opportunity: Create a short resource for workplace communication, presenting an idea or collaborating on a task.
  • Skills with limited equipment: Adapt a useful skill for learners with low connectivity, shared devices or different access needs.

Teachers prize

One Lesson More Learners
Who can apply Teachers aged 18 or older working in education, assessed at final submission.
Location Applicants of any nationality who live in Lebanon. Eligibility is assessed at final submission.
Nomination route Individual teacher or a team of 2–5 eligible teachers, with one representative for communication.
Eligible work Lesson plan up to three pages and supporting resources up to two pages. No identifiable pupil information.
Proposed awards 1st: USD 5,000
2nd: USD 2,500
3rd: USD 1,500
Per winning entry; teams share the cash prize equally. Awards remain subject to secured funding and final award terms.
Application Teacher prize registrationApplications are not open yet.
Full brief Read One Lesson More Learners nomination information →

The entry brief

Adapt an existing or new lesson so learners with different abilities, language backgrounds or access needs can participate. Classroom testing is optional, not an advantage in itself.

A lesson plan of up to three pages and up to two pages of supporting resources. Explain the context without identifying pupils, learning goal, adaptations, practical costs and how you will check understanding.

Describe your teaching context and resources without identifying pupils.

Ideas to explore

Illustrative topics, not an exhaustive list or a confirmed set of subcategories. Choose one focused idea that fits the category brief; alternatives may be considered under the final rules.

  • More ways to participate: Offer different ways to engage with a lesson and demonstrate understanding.
  • Language and communication: Make instructions, vocabulary or supporting resources clearer for varied language backgrounds.
  • Accessible, low-resource teaching: Adapt materials, timing or activities to reduce access barriers without requiring costly equipment.

Recognition with a purpose

The cash amounts shown above apply per winning entry, not per person. Individuals and teams receive the same award; a winning team shares its cash prize equally among its members. The communication representative does not automatically become a travel representative. Awards depend on secured funding and final award terms and are not guaranteed at this stage.

Trophies and winner certificates are planned for each of the nine winning entries, subject to funding. Certificates recognise the award; they are not accredited qualifications. Travel prizes are being explored: no sponsor, destination, itinerary, coverage or availability is confirmed. Cash, trophies, certificates and travel must be confirmed separately.

FIRST EDITION · PRIZE SCHEDULE

Prize Calendar

The first-edition schedule is set out below. Applications remain closed. Eligibility, teams, judging and first-cycle opening and closing times are approved; launch still requires secured funding, final documents and readiness.

Planned Al Lina calendar: first-cycle nominations open 15 January 2027 and close 1 January 2028. Next-cycle nominations open 1 February 2028. First-cycle evaluation May 2028; announcement June 2028. Funding and launch approval pending; applications remain closed.
First-cycle nominations open on 15 January 2027 at 09:00 and close on 1 January 2028 at 23:59, Beirut time (Asia/Beirut). The next cycle opens on 1 February 2028; its opening time and closing date have not been set.
Read the calendar dates as text
  1. 15 January 2027
    09:00 Beirut time

    First-cycle nominations open

  2. 1 January 2028
    23:59 Beirut time

    First-cycle nominations close

  3. 1 February 2028
    Opening time to be confirmed

    Next-cycle nominations open

  4. May 2028
    Exact dates to be confirmed

    First-cycle evaluation

  5. June 2028
    Exact day to be confirmed

    First-cycle announcement

What happens at each stage

First-cycle nominations open

First-cycle nominations are scheduled to open on 15 January 2027 at 09:00, Beirut time (Asia/Beirut). Applications remain closed; the approved application route and final documents will be available before opening.

First-cycle nominations close

First-cycle nominations close on 1 January 2028 at 23:59, Beirut time (Asia/Beirut). Eligibility is assessed at final submission. Administrative eligibility and completeness checks follow before evaluation.

Next-cycle nominations open

The next cycle opens on 1 February 2028. Its opening time and closing date have not been set. First-cycle assessment remains separate while the next cycle accepts nominations after an approved launch.

First-cycle evaluation

First-cycle evaluation takes place in May 2028, with independent scoring by conflict-free referees, followed by moderation and verification. Exact dates remain to be confirmed. The next nomination cycle may be open during this work.

First-cycle announcement

First-cycle results are planned for June 2028, with the exact announcement day to be confirmed. Results will be announced after verification and funding confirmation. Ceremony, trophies, certificates and any travel arrangements remain unconfirmed.

Applications are not open yet. Any schedule changes will be announced alongside the final rules before entry opens.

Fair, accessible and free to enter

  • Applicants may be of any nationality, provided they live in Lebanon. Category, age and education or employment eligibility is assessed when the application is finally submitted, not at the closing date.
  • Each person may participate in one entry per category, including team membership. Every team has 2–5 people, and every member must meet the relevant category’s eligibility rules. Organisers, judges and their immediate families are proposed exclusions; final definitions are pending.
  • Arabic, English and French entry routes are proposed, subject to competent judging in each language. Equivalent audio and assisted-entry routes will be confirmed before opening.
  • Entry is free. No purchase, donation, travel, public post or identifiable pupil photograph is required. Donations are optional and independent of entry and judging; judges must not see donor status.
  • Entrants retain ownership. Disclose translation, typing, access support and AI assistance. Original thinking matters; support is not automatically penalised.

Approved judging: need and educational value 25%, practicality 25%, inclusion and accessibility 20%, original contribution 20%, clarity and reflection 10%. Three independent referees assess each eligible entry. Only completed, conflict-free evaluations contribute to the average; a missing evaluation is not zero.

Before applications can open

Applications are not open yet.

First-cycle schedule: 15 January 2027 at 09:00 to 1 January 2028 at 23:59, Beirut time (Asia/Beirut). Next-cycle nominations open 1 February 2028; their opening time and closing date are not yet set. First-cycle evaluation: May 2028. First-cycle announcement: June 2028. Launch still requires secured funding, final privacy and consent documents, safeguarding arrangements and a verified accessible private intake process. Approved rules do not activate the portal.

The category buttons lead to the prize registration pages. Applications remain closed; please wait for the opening announcement before submitting an entry.

How applying would work

  1. Wait for the funded launch announcement and read the approved rules and privacy notice.
  2. Check category, age and grade or education-level eligibility at final submission. Each person may participate in one entry per category.
  3. Prepare the entry in an approved accessible format. Remove personal details from the work used for judging.
  4. Use the future approved private application route. Entrants under 18 need parent or legal guardian permission; detailed guardian arrangements will be provided before opening. A team representative handles communication.
  5. Receive an entry reference and follow the published review process. Applications are not open yet.

General instructions

  1. Read the category brief and approved rules before preparing an entry. Each person may participate in one entry per category, whether individually or as a team member.
  2. Choose a clear problem or learning goal, explain the intended learners and show how the idea works with realistic resources.
  3. Follow the category’s page or audio limits. Polished design, purchased materials and expensive equipment do not earn extra credit.
  4. Credit sources and materials; describe your original contribution. Explain AI, translation, typing or access assistance honestly. Do not use confidential learner information or identifiable pupil images.
  5. Arabic, English and French are proposed entry languages, conditional on suitable judging. Ask through the future approved private help channel about equivalent audio or assisted formats.
  6. Keep a copy of your work. When intake opens, submit through the approved route and retain the entry reference. Applications are not open yet.

Nomination information

All three prizes accept individuals or teams of 2–5 eligible people. Each person may participate in one entry per category, including team membership, and every team member must meet that category’s eligibility rules at final submission. A team names one representative for communication. This does not decide who would travel. Every entrant under 18 needs permission from a parent or legal guardian.

A winning team shares its cash prize equally among its members. Planned registration information includes the communication representative, private member details, each person’s contribution and eligibility declaration, and permission to include each member. Collect only the minimum information needed; no child details belong on public pages or in the judging copy. Detailed guardian, consent and privacy documents remain under preparation and review. The final registration process will be available before applications open.

  • A nomination is an entry for consideration, not an endorsement, shortlist place or award.
  • Third-party nominations and institutional endorsements are not required in this draft. Any future third-party route needs the nominee’s permission and separate approved rules.
  • Prepare the category entry, a short summary, eligibility self-declaration, assistance/AI disclosure and the approved private adult contact details. Do not include names, institution logos or contact details in the judging copy where practical.
  • No nomination fee, purchase or donation is required. Donor status must remain outside referee assignments and grading.
  • Please do not email entries or personal documents. The approved application process and private help channel will be announced before entry opens.

How evaluation and grading will work

“Referees” means independent evaluators, not personal recommendation writers. Three independent, conflict-free referees assess each eligible entry. Entrants do not select their evaluators, and a donor or sponsor must not purchase an advantage in selection or grading.

  1. Administrators check eligibility and separate confidential identity/contact data from the judging copy.
  2. Referees declare conflicts, receive calibrated scoring guidance and independently assess assigned entries.
  3. Each criterion receives a score from 0 to 5. The weighted total is the sum of (criterion score ÷ 5 × criterion weight), out of 100. The overall result is the average of completed, conflict-free evaluations. A missing evaluation is not treated as zero.
  4. School, university and teacher entries are ranked separately. Age/grade or teaching context informs appropriate assessment, not school prestige or donor status.
  5. Moderation checks missing scores, conflicts and calculation errors. Ties are resolved manually: compare mean need and educational-value scores, then mean inclusion scores; if still tied, a fourth independent referee assesses all tied entries; any remaining tie goes to an independent panel for a documented decision. The portal does not automate this tie procedure. Detailed review-request procedures remain to be finalized; no winner is generated or announced by this preview.

Approved rubric, with each criterion scored 0–5: need and educational value 25%; practicality 25%; inclusion and accessibility 20%; original contribution 20%; clarity and reflection 10%. Applications and evaluation will begin only after the required launch approvals.

Participant protection

The approved requirements are that entrants confirm the work is their own and agree that judges may review it. Every entrant under 18 needs permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Personal information and submissions must be accessible only to authorized staff and assigned referees. Permission to use a participant’s name, photo or work publicly must be separate and optional, especially for minors.

A privacy notice will explain what information is collected, why it is needed and how long it is kept. The detailed privacy, retention and consent documents still need preparation and review before launch. These requirements do not mean that intake or consent controls have been activated.