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Pray
Start with God
Discern Your Message
Begin with prayer. Ask God what story, lesson, poem, testimony or idea He may want you to shape through words.
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 (6-19yo) 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.
Every meaningful piece of writing begins with an idea and grows through prayer, discipline, thoughtful review and the courage to submit it.
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.
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.
2026A full day of books, creativity, celebration and literary inspiration.
Full DayNairobi, Kenya.
In PersonYoung writers from schools, churches, homeschool communities, reading clubs and families.
Kids + TeensNurturing future authors who write with truth, creativity, courage and excellence.
ImpactThe 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, story shaping and age-appropriate author-development guidance.
Everything in Bronze plus editing, design, illustrations, ISBN and copyrighting.
Everything in Bronze and Silver plus printed copies.
All finalists are encouraged to continue developing their writing gift and may receive discounts on selected writing, publishing or printing programmes.
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.
Open each section and read every guideline with a parent, guardian, teacher or mentor before preparing your entry.
Your submission must be your own original work. It must not be copied, plagiarised, submitted under another person’s name or adapted without permission.
Your manuscript must not be fully AI-generated. You may use AI responsibly for brainstorming, outlining, grammar checks, editing suggestions and improving clarity.
The final work must still show your voice, creativity, convictions and storytelling ability.
Entries must use strong storytelling and belong to one of these genres:
Self-help or motivational manuscripts such as “5 Principles of Success”, “7 Steps to Greatness” or similar instructional books will not be accepted.
Focus on storytelling, biblical truth, creativity, reflection and Gospel-centred impact.
Your work must advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and align with CLC Kenya’s mandate of making Christian literature available and helping people come to faith and maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your manuscript should have a clear structure, believable characters or reflections, meaningful development and a purposeful message.
Memoirs and devotionals should also be engaging and connected to the realities of high-school students, university students and wider society.
Entries must not contain explicit sexual content, vulgar language, occult promotion, graphic violence, glorification of sin or material that contradicts the Gospel.
Romance is allowed only when it is clean, modest, purposeful and consistent with Christian values.
Applicants must be under 19 years old on the date their application is submitted.
Award recipients must attend a 14-week writing mentorship class for 1.5 hours each week.
A participant who cannot commit to the schedule may forfeit the award.
Publishing benefits will follow traditional publishing terms. Shortlisted or winning participants may be required to review and sign a publishing agreement before receiving these benefits.
The award is a sponsorship of services, which may include mentorship, publishing support or printing benefits. No cash equivalent will be given.
Award benefits cannot be transferred, sold, exchanged for cash, reassigned or postponed without written permission from the organisers.
Awards will be announced on 5th December, 2026, in Nairobi.
Shortlisted participants and award recipients must attend the Annual BookFest in person and at their own cost. Another person cannot attend as their representative.
Your entry must not infringe copyright, trademarks, image rights or other intellectual-property rights.
Comic artwork must be original, created by the participant or used with proper permission.
Your work should not have been commercially published before. Work shared on a personal blog, school platform, church bulletin or social media may be accepted when you own the rights and declare the earlier use.
Selected manuscripts may undergo editorial review, mentorship, rewriting and publishing development.
Participants must be willing to receive feedback and revise their work. A teachable spirit is important; publishing has a way of humbling even the most gifted pen.
An entry may be disqualified when it:
The judges’ decision is final. Judges are not required to give individual feedback or discuss competition results with participants.
The organisers may use a participant’s name, photograph, manuscript title, video pitch, selected excerpts and related information for award publicity, reporting and promotion.
Full publishing rights will be governed by a separate written agreement where applicable.
By submitting your manuscript, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to all the competition guidelines.
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.
RulesThe message should reflect Christian truth and values, even where no Bible verses are directly quoted.
FaithThe reader should clearly understand what the young writer is communicating.
ClarityThe writing should show imagination, personal expression and original thought.
VoiceThe work should suit the participant’s age bracket and intended readers.
FitAfrica 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.
Men and women passionate about Christian literature and committed to guiding Africa’s young writers from raw gift to refined manuscript.
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National Director, CLC Kenya. Convener, ACABA & MABB.
02
Director – Media, Research & Development.
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Programs Coordinator.
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Head of Outreach – Print on Demand.
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Head of Outreach – Mama Africa Book Box.
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Administrative Assistant – Publishing & Post-Publishing.
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Administrative Assistant – YouVersion Bible Plans.
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Administrative Assistant – Rights, Translations & Media.
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.
Register. Write. Submit. Learn. Grow. Win. Your story may one day help another young reader.
Submit your writing as a clearly named Word document within the required word count.
Word DocumentInclude confirmation that a responsible adult knows about and approves the submission.
RequiredWhere applicable, include a short note from a teacher, pastor, mentor or club leader.
OptionalAttach clear proof of payment for the Kes 200 competition registration fee.
Kes 200Start your registration through WhatsApp and receive the next instructions.
Register Your EntryThese answers explain the competition requirements for children, teenagers, parents, guardians, teachers and mentors. Click any question to read the answer.
Children and teenagers who are under 19 years old on the date of application may enter.
Participants should be willing to write from a Christian foundation, follow the submission guidelines and receive guidance during the competition process.
The competition is designed for young Christian writers whose work reflects faith in Jesus Christ, biblical truth and Christian values.
The participant’s message should support the Gospel and should not contradict the Christian foundation of the competition.
The manuscript may be written for children, teenagers, university students, young adults or a wider Christian audience.
The language, themes, examples and presentation should be suitable for the intended readers.
The completed submission should be between 5,000 and 10,000 words.
The accepted genres are:
No. Instructional manuscripts such as “Five Principles of Success”, “Seven Steps to Greatness” or similar self-help formats will not be accepted.
The competition emphasises storytelling, reflection, biblical truth, creativity and Gospel-centred impact.
No. A manuscript does not have to contain direct Scripture quotations.
However, its message, values, worldview and conclusion should reflect biblical truth and advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romance may be included only when it is clean, modest, purposeful and consistent with Christian values.
Difficult subjects may be handled thoughtfully, but entries must not contain explicit sexual content, vulgar language, occult promotion, glorification of sin or unnecessarily graphic violence.
AI may be used responsibly for brainstorming, outlining, grammar checks, editing suggestions or improving clarity.
The manuscript must not be fully AI-generated. The participant’s own voice, imagination, convictions and storytelling ability must remain clear.
Yes. Adults may encourage the participant, discuss ideas, review grammar, point out unclear sections and help the young writer understand the guidelines.
They must not write the manuscript on the participant’s behalf or change it so much that the young writer’s own voice disappears.
Yes. The submission must be the participant’s own original work. It must not be copied, plagiarised, submitted under another person’s name or adapted without permission.
Quotations, images or other protected material must be properly credited and used with permission where required.
The manuscript should not have been commercially published before.
Work previously shared on a personal blog, school platform, church bulletin or social-media page may be considered when the participant owns the rights and declares where it appeared.
The submission package should include:
Files should be named clearly using the participant’s full name, age, school or group and document type.
The registration fee is Kes 200 for each entry. Clear proof of payment should be included with the submission.
Judges will consider:
Award recipients may receive sponsored mentorship, publishing support or printing benefits, depending on the award category.
Winners must be willing to attend a 14-week writing mentorship programme for approximately 1.5 hours each week.
No. The award is non-monetary. It is a sponsorship of selected services such as mentorship, publishing support or printing.
The award cannot be exchanged for cash or transferred to another person without written approval from the organisers.
Yes. Shortlisted participants and award recipients should be available to attend the Annual Kids and Teens BookFest in Nairobi in person and at their own cost.
The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, 5th December, 2026, at NPBC Garden Estate, Nairobi, Kenya.
Representation by another person will not be allowed.
Selected manuscripts may go through editorial review, mentorship, rewriting and publishing development.
Participants should be willing to receive feedback, revise their work and work respectfully with mentors and editors.
Copyright and full publishing rights will be addressed through the relevant written publishing agreement where applicable.
The organisers may use the participant’s name, photograph, manuscript title, video pitch and selected excerpts for award publicity, reporting and promotion.
An entry may be disqualified when it:
No. The judges’ decision is final. Judges are not required to provide individual feedback or enter into correspondence about the results.
Use the official registration link or contact CLC Kenya, ACABA or Mama Africa Book Box through the communication channels provided on this page.
A parent or guardian may contact the programme team where clarification is needed before submission.
Discover more Mama Africa Book Box and African Christian Authors programmes for children, teenagers, university students, families and book lovers.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support that makes our family-centred reading and discipleship programs possible.
Mama Africa Book Box by CLC Kenya