Opportunities 19 July 2026

FLAD will pay 2,000 dollars for the best essay by a young Portuguese-American — entries close in September

FLAD's POV essay contest challenges Portuguese-Americans aged 18 to 23 to write about the Portugal-US relationship. The winning essay earns 2,000 dollars; applications close September 20.

Organizer: FLAD — Luso-American Development Foundation
Deadline: 20 September 2026

Apply / Learn more

There are 2,000 dollars waiting for the young Portuguese-American who best puts into words what ties Portugal to the United States. FLAD, the Luso-American Development Foundation, has launched the 2026 edition of POV — Point of View, an essay contest marking 250 years of American independence, and applications are open until September 20.

Who can enter FLAD’s essay contest?

Young people aged 18 to 23 who are US citizens of Portuguese descent. The essay must be original, written in English, and fit within 3,500 characters including spaces — closer to a long post than a thesis. The theme is the relationship between the two countries, from history to culture to the weight of the diaspora; Portugal, as it happens, was among the first nations to recognise American independence.

What do you win and how do you apply?

The winner takes 2,000 dollars and sees their essay published in a Portuguese-American news outlet; the two runners-up receive 1,000 dollars each. Applications go through FLAD’s online form, with the essay and a CV attached, and the full rules are on the foundation’s website.

For emigrant families, this summer keeps building bridges back to Portugal — this contest joins the university places reserved for emigrants and their descendants with deadlines also running. If you know a young writer in the diaspora, pass this along: September comes around fast.

By Miguel Sarmento

Image: JnpoJuwan / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

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