Columbans launch 2026 Schools Competition

Source: Columban Missionaries

"Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is."

World Peace Day on 21 September is the date Columbans in Britain and Ireland chose to launch their next Schools Competition 2025/26. It takes the theme: "Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is." It is a quote from the United Nations Secretary General-Secretary, António Guterres, who is a Catholic.

Columban missionaries internationally have a mission priority of supporting Migrants and Refugees. This echoes Catholic Social Teaching which calls us to 'welcome the stranger'. Pope Leo told diplomats in May 2025: "My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate…… All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged."

The Columbans are looking for students in Britain and Ireland (aged 13-18 inclusive, parental permission required) to submit an original piece of writing or an original image on the theme. They invite young people to explore perceptions of people seeking sanctuary in Britain and Ireland, considering practical examples of welcome and solidarity.

The competition aims to increase young people's compassion and understanding of journeys of displaced people seeking safety in another country. How can we respect diversity and respond with love to those seeking refuge and safety? Can we be inspired by real-life stories of resilience and hope, Scripture, or Catholic Social Teaching? How can we empathise with the experience of individuals and families being separated from the place they call home.

The competition closes on 14 February 2026 and competition winners will be announced on 9 March. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300 or €300!

High-profile judges from the world of journalism have been secured and winning entries will be published in the Columbans' Far East magazine, Vocation for Justice newsletter, Columban websites in Ireland and Britain, Columban social media and in other Catholic media. The Columbans are delighted that Ruth Gledhill of The Tablet and Jo Siedlecka of Independent Catholic News, are judges in Britain.

Students will find the Columban Competition website a useful resource. It includes information on the theme of "Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is." There are examples of refugee projects and inspirational communities. There are also details on submission of entries and a helpful FAQ page. The website provides material suitable for students, teachers and parents.

This is the ninth annual Columban Schools Media Competition. Past themes have focused on Migrants, Climate Change, Throwaway Culture, Racism, 21st Century Changemakers, Peacemaking, Biodiversity and 'Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope.'

Details and information on the competition website: www.columbancompetition.com