How it works
Parents and teachers! The Meaning of Home contest is a unique and meaningful way to get your children involved in creative writing and giving back in their community. Kids in grades 4, 5, and 6 can write an entry between 50 and 300 words about what home means to them in English or French. Entries can be submitted online, by mail, or by e-mail during the contest period. Grand prize winners receive a $30,000 grant for their local Habitat and runner-up winners receive $10,000 for their local Habitat, plus all winners receive a tablet for themselves and a pizza party for their class!
Each contest entry results in a $10 donation to your local Habitat for Humanity to help build safe and affordable homes for families in your community.
The contest is an activity that students will see as meaningful. It will challenge them to think creatively about a topic that directly impacts their lives—the meaning of home—and ultimately improve their writing skills.
Education Module
If you’re a teacher, download the education module for lesson plans and curriculum to help guide the creative writing process and provide fun activities that will get students thinking and excited about their contest entries.
Prizes
Each grade will have one grand prize winner and three runners-up.
Grand Prizes (3)
$30,000 Grant
Each grand prize winner will receive a $30,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity, PLUS an iPad and a pizza party for their class.
Runner-Up Prizes (9)
$10,000 Grant
Three runners-up per grade will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity, PLUS an iPad and pizza party for their class.
All entries
$10 Donation
$10 per entry will be generously donated by our contest sponsors, to your local Habitat for Humanity.
That means that your student’s participation is helping more Canadian families access safe, decent and affordable homes.
Important dates
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Teacher sign-up starts | September 2024 |
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Contest opens | January 6, 2025 |
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Contest closes | February 21, 2025 |
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Judging period | February 24 - May 2, 2025 |
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Winners announced | May 2025 |
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Our sponsors
Founding sponsor
Award sponsors
No purchase necessary. Contest valid from January 6 to February 21, 2025. There are 12 prizes available to be won with a total approximate retail value of $7,188 CAD. Odds of winning a prize depend upon the number and score of eligible entries received. Correctly answering a time-limited, mathematical skill-testing question required. Open to all legal residents of Canada who are grade 4, 5, and 6 students. Limit one entry per entry person. For complete contest rules see meaningofhome.ca/rules.