The European Anti-Poverty Network in Spain, known as EAPN-ES, has successfully concluded its twelfth edition of the short story contestUnder the slogan 'Telling stories against hate matters', the initiative has managed to gather 57 short texts that address poverty, exclusion and hate speech.
The competition, part of the International Year of Volunteering, aims to highlight vulnerable realities through literature. Following an open call for submissions between February and May, the jury has announced the winners, emphasizing the transformative power of the written word.
A call for proposals with social impact
The 12th edition of the EAPN-ES microfiction competition was launched with the aim of to encourage reflection on prejudice and aporophobiaParticipants were asked to submit texts of up to one hundred words that denounced situations of inequality and promoted empathy. The organization received submissions from all over Spain, demonstrating the public's interest in using literature as a tool for change.
The winners of this edition
The first prize went to Jonás Candalija for his microfiction 'Algoritmo de acogida', a story that criticizes the dehumanization of social welfare systemsThe text narrates the experience of a person marginalized by algorithms who, thanks to their writing, achieves recognition. The second prize went to Irene Jiménez for 'Learn Outside the Circle', a story about overcoming poverty and educational exclusion.
Both winners will receive prizes donated by the School of Writers. The first-place winner will receive a microfiction course, while the second-place winner will receive a manual of narrative techniques. In addition, the winning story will be adapted into a professional video to amplify its message.
A competition with tradition
EAPN-ES has been organizing this competition for twelve years, and previous editions have seen remarkable participation. In the eleventh edition, Pelayo Alonso Fernández's microfiction piece 'Neutrality' was the winner and was used in awareness campaigns. The collaboration with the School of Writers remains a pillar to offer quality literary training to the award winners.
The jury for this edition was composed of experts in poverty and social exclusion from within the network itself, guaranteeing a final and binding decision. The organization expressed its gratitude for the participation of all the authors and reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against hate and discrimination.
Thus, the twelfth edition of the 'Telling Stories Against Hate' competition has not only rewarded literary creativity but has also highlighted the power of microfiction to denounce injustices and build a more inclusive society. The winning and finalist texts will continue to be disseminated as part of EAPN-ES's awareness-raising activities.