Kids & Teens Writing Competition

Kids and Teens Creative Writing Competition Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Creators

A joyful platform for children and teenagers to discover their God-given creativity, shape their ideas into words, and grow as confident African storytellers.

Is This You?

Is Your God-given Message Ready to Grow?

This competition is for young writers who carry stories, lessons, imagination, testimonies, poems, devotionals or ideas that can encourage another child, teen, family or community.

01

Do you love writing stories?

Maybe you write in notebooks, journals, school assignments or quiet corners when ideas visit you.

02

Do people say you are creative?

Your family, teacher or friends may already see a gift in the way you explain, imagine or express yourself.

03

Do you have a message?

You may have a testimony, lesson, poem, devotional or story that can help another young person.

This competition is for you.

Register, write, submit, learn, grow and allow your words to serve your generation.

The Vision

One Generation. Many Pens. One Message.

The Kids and Teens Creative Writing Competition 2026 exists to discover, nurture and celebrate young Christian writers across Kenya and Africa.

This is more than a competition. It is a call to children and teenagers to steward their creativity with courage, excellence and biblical conviction. Through stories, devotionals, poems, essays, children’s content and other creative expressions, young writers are invited to shape messages that can become books, resources and conversations that serve families, schools, churches and the next generation.

2026Competition Year
KidsYoung Writers
TeensEmerging Authors
Stories Waiting

Campus Creativity? Today, let us begin even earlier.

The future of Christian literature may be sitting in a classroom, Sunday school, homeschool table, youth group, library corner or bedroom desk.

Competition Focus

Write Boldly. Think Deeply. Speak Faithfully.

01

Faithful Message

Entries should reflect Christian values, biblical conviction and a clear desire to encourage, teach, disciple or transform readers.

02

Creative Excellence

Young writers are encouraged to write with originality, clarity, courage and beauty. The pen is small, but the assignment can be mighty.

03

African Voice

We welcome stories and ideas shaped by African contexts, school life, family, culture, friendship, leadership, faith and purpose.

04

School and Family Impact

Parents, teachers, churches and schools can use this opportunity to identify writers, thinkers, creatives and communicators.

05

Publishing Pathway

Strong entries may open conversations around mentorship, editing, publishing, book development and wider visibility.

06

Kingdom Stewardship

This is a call to use talent for God’s glory, not merely applause. A message submitted in obedience can become seed in many lives.

How It Works

From Idea to Entry. From Entry to Impact.

01 / Pray

Discern Your Message

Begin with prayer. Ask God what story, lesson, poem, testimony or idea He may want you to shape through words.

Start with God
02 / Write

Prepare Your Entry

Write clearly, creatively and faithfully. Let your voice be fresh, but let your foundation remain anchored in truth.

Shape the idea
03 / Review

Polish Before Submission

Edit your work, check grammar, strengthen structure and ask a parent, teacher or trusted adult to review it.

Make it better
04 / Submit

Enter the Competition

Use the submission link or form provided by CLC Kenya, ACABA and MABB once entries are officially open.

Send it in

Your Story Can Carry Light.

CLC Kenya, ACABA and MABB invite children and teenagers to write for Christ, for Africa and for a generation that needs truth wrapped in creativity, courage and excellence.

The Call to Write

Be the Next Voice of Purpose.

Think of a message. Shape it into words. Submit your writing. Come showcase your gift and step into the journey of becoming a confident Christian writer.

This is more than a competition. It is a platform for young writers who believe that books still matter, ideas still carry weight, and words — when surrendered to God — can outlive the writer.

Event

Award Ceremony At the Annual BookFest

Date

Saturday, 5th December, 2026

The celebration and award ceremony will take place during the Annual Kids & Teens BookFest.

2026
Time

8.30am – 8.30pm

A full day of books, creativity, celebration, young voices and literary inspiration.

Full Day
Venue

NPBC Garden Estate

Nairobi, Kenya.

In Person
Who

Children and Teenagers

Young Christian writers in schools, homeschool communities, churches, reading clubs and families.

Kids + Teens
Purpose

To raise young Christian writers and future authors

We desire to nurture young voices who can write with truth, creativity and courage.

Impact
Overview

Awards For Grabs

The awards are designed to help promising young writers move from raw gift to refined writing, from refined writing to mentorship, and from mentorship to visible impact.

Bronze

Writing Mentorship Sponsorship

Writing mentorship support, story shaping and age-appropriate author-development guidance.

Silver

Mentorship + Publishing Preparation

Everything in Bronze plus editing guidance, design support discussions and preparation for future publishing.

Gold

Mentorship + Publishing Package + Printed Copies

Everything in Bronze and Silver plus selected publishing support and printed copies where applicable.

Finalists

All Finalists’ Benefit

All finalists are encouraged to continue developing their writing gift and may receive discounts on selected writing, publishing or printing programmes.

From gift, to manuscript, to publishing preparation, to impact.

Terms & Conditions apply.

Who Should Participate?

Christian Kids and Teens with a Message Worth Developing.

This competition is aimed at impacting lives with Christian literature and nurturing the next generation of African writers.

01

Born again young believers

Children and teenagers who desire to write from a Christian foundation.

Faith
02

Young writers with stories or messages

Participants with Christian messages, stories, teachings, poems or testimonies.

Story
03

Children and teens willing to learn

Those willing to revise, grow, receive guidance and present their work with excellence.

Growth
04

Families who believe in books

Parents, guardians, teachers and mentors who believe books can shape homes, churches and nations.

Support
3,000+Authors served by CLC Kenya since 2015
23+Anglophone African countries reached
CLCAuthor development
MABBChildren’s reading culture
Submission Guidelines

Read Carefully Before You Submit.

These guidelines help every participant and parent understand the writing standards, eligibility expectations, award conditions, review process and final agreement attached to the competition.

Submission Confirmation

By submitting, you confirm that the work is original, not fully AI-generated, Gospel-centred, within the accepted genres, and suitable for children and/or teenagers. You also confirm that a parent, guardian or teacher is aware of the submission and that, if shortlisted or awarded, you are willing to attend the Annual BookFest in Nairobi on 5th December, 2026 at your own cost.

A

Manuscript Content and Writing Standards

The work should be original, clear, age-appropriate, respectful, well-structured and written with care.

B

Eligibility, Commitment and Award Conditions

Participants must meet the age requirement and agree to follow the competition instructions and timelines.

C

Review, Selection and Final Agreement

Entries will be reviewed by judges, and shortlisted participants may be contacted for further steps.

Copyright Reminder

The submitted work must be original and must not infringe on another writer’s copyright. Original work only. Gospel-centred. Storytelling-led. Terms & Conditions apply.

Eligibility Requirement

Age Bracket: Applicants must be under 19 years old at the time of application. Eligibility is determined based on the applicant’s age on the date the application is submitted.

Topics for Kids & Teens

6 Topics. Endless Imagination.

Participants should choose one category for their submission. The writing should be original, thoughtful, well-structured and relevant to the lives of children, teenagers, families, schools, churches and society.

01

My Faith, My Everyday Life

Stories, poems or devotionals showing how faith helps children and teens live wisely every day.

02

Courage to Do What Is Right

Creative writing about honesty, kindness, peer pressure, bullying, obedience, forgiveness or standing for truth.

03

Africa, My Home

Stories that celebrate African families, cultures, communities, landscapes, languages, wisdom and hope.

04

The Gift God Gave Me

Writing about talents, purpose, identity, creativity, service and using one’s gifts for God’s glory.

05

When I Faced a Challenge

Stories, testimonies or reflections about overcoming fear, loss, failure, change, disappointment or hardship.

06

A Better Tomorrow

Creative ideas about family, school, church, leadership, environment, technology, friendship or community transformation.

Judging Areas

What Judges Will Look For

01

Adherence to guidelines

The entry should follow the submission rules, length, category and formatting instructions.

Rules
02

Advancement of the Gospel

The message should reflect Christian truth and values, even where no Bible verses are directly quoted.

Faith
03

Clarity of message

The reader should understand what the young writer is communicating.

Clarity
04

Creativity and originality

The writing should show imagination, personal expression and original thought.

Voice
05

Age-appropriate presentation

The work should be suitable for the participant’s age bracket and target readers.

Fit
Why This Competition Matters

Africa Has Unwritten Books.

Africa has many stories, many testimonies, many teachers, many dreamers and many unwritten books.

This competition exists to help children and teenagers discover that writing is not merely a school exercise. It can be ministry. It can be service. It can be leadership. It can be legacy.

Ministry Service Leadership Legacy
Program Team

CLC Kenya • ACABA • MABB

The programme brings together publishing, author development, children’s reading culture and African Christian literary celebration.

CLC Kenya

Author development, publishing support, mentorship and Christian literature growth.

ACABA

Awards, recognition, author celebration and continental Christian literary visibility.

MABB

Reading culture, children’s books, family engagement and nurturing young African storytellers.

Become a Sponsor

Partner With Purpose.

Partner with us to provide mentorship, publishing support, printing, awards, event logistics and long-term author development for the next generation of African Christian writers.

Mentorship

Support young writers through classes, coaching and manuscript guidance.

Awards

Provide prizes, certificates, books, book tokens and learning resources.

Publishing

Help promising young writers move towards editing, design and publishing preparation.

BookFest

Support event logistics, showcases, author tables and family literary experiences.

Register Your Entry

Do You Have a Message to Write?

This is your invitation to begin. Register. Write. Submit. Learn. Grow. Win. And perhaps, one day soon, another young reader will hold your book and say, “This helped me.”

Your Submission Package

To make review easier, participants are encouraged to submit their entry as a complete package with clearly named files.

01

Your story or manuscript

Submit your writing in a Word document. Age-appropriate length guidelines may apply.

Word Doc
02

Parent or guardian consent

A simple confirmation that a responsible adult is aware of the submission.

Consent
03

School, church or mentor note

Where applicable, include a note from a teacher, pastor, mentor or club leader.

Optional
04

Payment proof

Attach payment proof of the Kes 200 registration fee.

Kes 200

Tip: Name your files clearly using your full name, age, school or group, and document type before uploading or sending them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions Before You Submit?

Here are the key details children, teenagers, parents, guardians, teachers, mentors and sponsors need to know about the Kids and Teens Creative Writing Competition 2026.

Who can enter the competition?

Children and teenagers under 19 years old at the time of application may enter, provided they follow the submission guidelines.

Does the work have to quote Scripture?

No. However, the work should reflect Christian truth, values and a Gospel-centred worldview.

Can parents or teachers help?

Yes. Adults may guide, encourage and review, but the writing must remain the child’s or teenager’s original work.

Can AI write the entry?

No. The submission must not be fully AI-generated. The young writer’s own thinking, voice and creativity must be clear.

When is the award ceremony?

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, 5th December, 2026 during the Annual Kids and Teens BookFest at NPBC Garden Estate, Nairobi, Kenya.

How do I register?

Use the registration link or contact CLC Kenya, ACABA or Mama Africa Book Box through the official communication channels provided.

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