SICA - Central America Integration System

09/26/2023 | Press release | Archived content

Short story contest based on legends launched for SICA member countries



The contest seeks to preserve regional culture, as well as support the talent, creativity and imagination that characterizes the people of our region, through the development of short stories that are based on our existing legends, thus reconnecting us with our origins.


Centroamérica,septembre 26, 2023.The General Secretariat of SICA (SG-SICA), in coordination with the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Educational and Cultural Coordination (SE-CECC) and with the support of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), launches the First Regional Literary Contest "Short stories from my land, based on our legends: Central America and the Dominican Republic".

This initiative seeks to promote the participation of the population of the member states of the Central American Integration System (SICA): Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic, through the creation of stories based on existing legends, providing a valuable legacy for the present and future generations of the region.

Persons interested in participating have until 31st October to send their literary works and be part of this initiative.

The contest consists of three categories: Gold(from 13 to 17 years old), Diamond(from 18 to 59 years old) and Platinum( 60 years old and older) and the first three places in each category will receive the following prizes:

• First place: US $750 dollars
• Second place: US $500 dollars
• Third place: US$400 dollars

The winners will attend an all-expenses paid Awards Ceremony, in one of the SICA member states, a diploma of recognition and their literary works will be published in a compendium.
As part of the short story selection criteria, the jury will evaluate originality and creativity, the content and theme, that the work is of one's own authorship; that the message is clear and original; as well as that its content does not convey messages of violence and/or stigmatization of any kind.

The organizing body guarantees a transparent selection and evaluation process through the appointment of a Pre-selection Committee, a Qualifying Jury and a team of observers who will participate in the entire process. These teams will ensure that the entries comply with the rules, as well as analyze, qualify, identify and disqualify plagiarized proposals.

How to take part? Learn about the rules of the contest, the calendar of activities, participation guidelines and selection criteria by visiting the website: www.sica.int/concursosculturales/leyendas; Likewise, interested parties can send their doubts and queries to the institutional email [email protected].