Dear colleagues,

We are extending the deadline for submissions to the Human Interest Story Contest until November 15, 2013. We hope this will make it possible for all interested Country Office staff to participate in this exciting event.

Please see updated instructions below for submission without using the website, in English and French, with additional tips for creating a winning entry.

Non-English-speakers are encouraged to enter! You may use Google Translate to create an English version of a story written in another language. It does not need to be perfect, but please have someone with good English skills review and correct major errors before submitting. The entry form must be completed in English.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Complete the attached entry form fully and accurately, and insert the story text in the indicated field. Do not insert any photos inside the Word document.
  2. Prepare any accompanying photos as separate JPG files in their original camera file size (minimum dimensions 640x640 pixels). Do not compress these unless the files are extraordinarily large. Name the files as follows: Country_AuthorName_photo_number (e.g.: UnitedStates_RickPerera_photo_1, UnitedStates_RickPerera_photo_2, etc.) Reference these file names with full information about the subject, in the Photo Captions section of the contest entry form.
  3. Prepare any video according to the same naming format (Country_AuthorName_video_number)
  4. Place the above into a folder (one per entry) on your desktop. Do not forget to include the completed entry form inside the folder!
  5. Name the folder Country_AuthorName (if you are submitting more than one entry, you can add a number: Country_AuthorName_1, Country_AuthorName_2, etc.)
  6. Compress your folder into one zipped file: Right click on the folder
    Select "WinZip"
    Select "Add to Zip file..."
    Select "Add"
    A zip file with the same name and in the same location as the folder will be created (on your computer desktop if you saved the folder there).
  7. If the completed zip file is 5MB or less in size, you can e-mail it directly to HumanInterestStory@care.org
  8. Files that are too large to e-mail can be uploaded to the Box server as follows:
    1. Navigate to this Web address: https://careusa.app.box.com/signup/collablink/d_1200186621/7adae633601d0
    2. Follow the instructions to create a Box account, by entering your name, e-mail, and a password of your choice
    3. Go to your e-mail inbox where you will find an invitation e-mail from noreply@box.net (this may go to your spam/junk folder), and click on the link to confirm your e-mail address and log in
    4. Once logged in, you will have access to the folder CARE Human Interest Story Contest 2013
    5. Click on the button marked éUpload
    6. Choose Upload Files, navigate to your zipped file, and click Open
    7. Your file should now upload, and you should see the message: The file “[file name”] was successfully added to your account
    8. Send an e-mail to HumanInterestStory@care.org informing us that you have made the upload, and we will confirm that it has uploaded properly
  9. If you have limited Internet bandwidth you may not be able to upload very large files (especially video). If this is the case, you may burn the files to DVD, and send to us via pouch. Please include the completed contest entry form both burned on the DVD and as an enclosed printout. The address is:
    CARE USA
    Human Interest Story Contest
    c/o Rick Perera
    151 Ellis Street
    Atlanta, GA 30303
    USA
    (Phone: +1 404 979 9272)
  10. Do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions: HumanInterestStory@care.org

Best of luck and we look forward to seeing your entries!

Sincerely,
The Human Interest Story Contest team
CARE USA Proposals, Stewardship and Information (PSI) team