A joyful platform for children and teenagers to discover their God-given creativity, shape their ideas into words, and grow as confident African storytellers.
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.
Maybe you write in notebooks, journals, school assignments or quiet corners when ideas visit you.
Your family, teacher or friends may already see a gift in the way you explain, imagine or express yourself.
You may have a testimony, lesson, poem, devotional or story that can help another young person.
Register, write, submit, learn, grow and allow your words to serve your generation.
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.
The future of Christian literature may be sitting in a classroom, Sunday school, homeschool table, youth group, library corner or bedroom desk.
Entries should reflect Christian values, biblical conviction and a clear desire to encourage, teach, disciple or transform readers.
Young writers are encouraged to write with originality, clarity, courage and beauty. The pen is small, but the assignment can be mighty.
We welcome stories and ideas shaped by African contexts, school life, family, culture, friendship, leadership, faith and purpose.
Parents, teachers, churches and schools can use this opportunity to identify writers, thinkers, creatives and communicators.
Strong entries may open conversations around mentorship, editing, publishing, book development and wider visibility.
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.
Begin with prayer. Ask God what story, lesson, poem, testimony or idea He may want you to shape through words.
Write clearly, creatively and faithfully. Let your voice be fresh, but let your foundation remain anchored in truth.
Edit your work, check grammar, strengthen structure and ask a parent, teacher or trusted adult to review it.
Use the submission link or form provided by CLC Kenya, ACABA and MABB once entries are officially open.
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.
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.
The celebration and award ceremony will take place during the Annual Kids & Teens BookFest.
A full day of books, creativity, celebration, young voices and literary inspiration.
Nairobi, Kenya.
Young Christian writers in schools, homeschool communities, churches, reading clubs and families.
We desire to nurture young voices who can write with truth, creativity and courage.
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.
Writing mentorship support, story shaping and age-appropriate author-development guidance.
Everything in Bronze plus editing guidance, design support discussions and preparation for future publishing.
Everything in Bronze and Silver plus selected publishing support and printed copies where applicable.
All finalists are encouraged to continue developing their writing gift and may receive discounts on selected writing, publishing or printing programmes.
Terms & Conditions apply.
This competition is aimed at impacting lives with Christian literature and nurturing the next generation of African writers.
Children and teenagers who desire to write from a Christian foundation.
Participants with Christian messages, stories, teachings, poems or testimonies.
Those willing to revise, grow, receive guidance and present their work with excellence.
Parents, guardians, teachers and mentors who believe books can shape homes, churches and nations.
These guidelines help every participant and parent understand the writing standards, eligibility expectations, award conditions, review process and final agreement attached to the competition.
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.
The work should be original, clear, age-appropriate, respectful, well-structured and written with care.
Participants must meet the age requirement and agree to follow the competition instructions and timelines.
Entries will be reviewed by judges, and shortlisted participants may be contacted for further steps.
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.
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.
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.
Stories, poems or devotionals showing how faith helps children and teens live wisely every day.
Creative writing about honesty, kindness, peer pressure, bullying, obedience, forgiveness or standing for truth.
Stories that celebrate African families, cultures, communities, landscapes, languages, wisdom and hope.
Writing about talents, purpose, identity, creativity, service and using one’s gifts for God’s glory.
Stories, testimonies or reflections about overcoming fear, loss, failure, change, disappointment or hardship.
Creative ideas about family, school, church, leadership, environment, technology, friendship or community transformation.
The entry should follow the submission rules, length, category and formatting instructions.
The message should reflect Christian truth and values, even where no Bible verses are directly quoted.
The reader should understand what the young writer is communicating.
The writing should show imagination, personal expression and original thought.
The work should be suitable for the participant’s age bracket and target readers.
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.
The programme brings together publishing, author development, children’s reading culture and African Christian literary celebration.
Author development, publishing support, mentorship and Christian literature growth.
Awards, recognition, author celebration and continental Christian literary visibility.
Reading culture, children’s books, family engagement and nurturing young African storytellers.
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.
Support young writers through classes, coaching and manuscript guidance.
Provide prizes, certificates, books, book tokens and learning resources.
Help promising young writers move towards editing, design and publishing preparation.
Support event logistics, showcases, author tables and family literary experiences.
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.”
To make review easier, participants are encouraged to submit their entry as a complete package with clearly named files.
Submit your writing in a Word document. Age-appropriate length guidelines may apply.
A simple confirmation that a responsible adult is aware of the submission.
Where applicable, include a note from a teacher, pastor, mentor or club leader.
Attach payment proof of the Kes 200 registration fee.
Tip: Name your files clearly using your full name, age, school or group, and document type before uploading or sending them.
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.
Children and teenagers under 19 years old at the time of application may enter, provided they follow the submission guidelines.
No. However, the work should reflect Christian truth, values and a Gospel-centred worldview.
Yes. Adults may guide, encourage and review, but the writing must remain the child’s or teenager’s original work.
No. The submission must not be fully AI-generated. The young writer’s own thinking, voice and creativity must be clear.
The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, 5th December, 2026 during the Annual Kids and Teens BookFest at NPBC Garden Estate, Nairobi, Kenya.
Use the registration link or contact CLC Kenya, ACABA or Mama Africa Book Box through the official communication channels provided.
Mama Africa Book Box by CLC Kenya