To stimulate creativity in children: ASAF Cameroun Foundation launches maiden national writing competition.

The competition, aimed at stimulating the creativity of children while providing them a platform to share their dreams and visions of the future, is under the theme: “Telling Tomorrow”.

The initiative is being led by award-winning writer and winner of the 2020 Goncourt des Lycéens Prize, Djaïli Amadou Amal, who doubles as the Honourary Ambassador ASAF Cameroun Foundation. 

The Foundation, through the national writing competition, is opening a window for children to create stories, tales, poems, or personal accounts that surrounds around the theme and submit on or before August 31, 2025. 

"By giving children the means to tell their stories, we are also giving them a reason to stay in school and continue learning," Eran Moas explained.

Eran Moas said the approach perfectly illustrates how culture and education can work together to support the most vulnerable young people. 

Officials said young Cameroonians willing to submit their entries online can do so via the email address councours@asaf-cameroun.org.

The winners of the contest, it was disclosed, will be announce in September with five major prizes including laptops, tablets, school uniforms, books, money and other school kits, to be awarded to the winners.

The competition, it was revealed, is not limited to material support. Officials said it also aims to nurture essential skills. Through creative writing, they said participants would strengthen their reading, language proficiency, and the ability to organise ideas. 

The initiative, it was added, also encourages critical thinking and imagination, enabling young people to reflect on the dreams, challenges, and the world they wish to build. 

This, it was added, is also as the Djaili Amal Amadou libraries in Douala and Maroua run writing workshops, where writers and mentors will help young participants develop their style, refine their expression, and gain confidence in their ideas. 

The library workshops, it was added, will provide a stimulating and supportive environment where children can share their work, receive personalised advice, and interact with other young enthusiasts. 

Preventing school dropout through creativity 

By providing material support, the competition, officials said, contributes directly to preventing school dropout.

This, they explained, is especially in a context where in many regions of the country, some children have had their schooling interrupted for economic as some families do not always have the means to cover school supplies or associated costs. 

Developing skills & imagination

The competition, it was revealed, will also motivate and help young people have interest in writing and will also serve as powerful tools to encourage children to stay in school. 

Participating in a competition where their work is recognised, receiving guidance from experienced writers, and seeing their efforts celebrated in an official ceremony, officials said, creates a strong emotional commitment, motivating young people to persevere in their educational journey. 

Officials said it also encourages critical thinking and imagination, enabling young people to reflect on their dreams, challenges, and the world they wish to build. 

The setting, officials said, fosters self-expression and self-confidence, qualities that directly benefit the academic progress and overall development of young people. 

"By giving each child a space to express themselves, we help them realise that they have something unique to contribute to the world," adds Eran Moas. 

He also explained that the approach makes the competition to go beyond a simple literary contest to becoming an educational and creative tool, empowering young Cameroonians to express themselves and build their future with confidence.

About ASAF Foundation 

Driven by the philanthropic vision of Eran Moas, the ASAF Cameroon Foundation is a key player in solidarity in the country. 

Approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2019, it works on several fronts to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges affecting the most disadvantaged. It has touched more than 100,000 lives in over 100 projects.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3541 of Friday August 22, 2025