by Maruska DeSouza for BIS Mumbai

The Read Bloom Books (RBB) Story Writing Competition launched in August 2024 and culminated on December 14, 2024, was a celebration organized by children to enable children to gain recognition as published authors. This venture was initiated and driven by Maruska Desouza, the IB Teacher-Librarian at Don Bosco International School (DBIS), Mumbai, and carried out in collaboration with three other IB schools in India

 This competition aimed to offer young writers worldwide a platform to showcase their storytelling skills. Students between the ages of 7-16 were invited to participate by writing original stories in any genre or language. Driven by student voice and choice, the stories were judged by a student jury consisting of eight students from various schools (4 from DBIS). Over 300 participants submitted their stories in five categories: 1-6 age category, 7-12 category, Teen category, Gen AI category, and Mother Language category. A key feature of this competition was the acceptance of Gen-AI technology, based on criteria set by the RBB Core Committee.

 Don Bosco International School (DBIS) demonstrated its students' agency and leadership by taking on key roles as jury members, keynote speakers, workshop leaders, and moderators. Three DBIS students won awards, including two first-place and one third place. Additionally, Maruska Desouza was awarded a trophy, as the librarian of the winning school for motivating her students to write.

 Myrah, a DBIS Grade 8 student, who was the keynote speaker at the festival, shared about her passion for poetry, and was delighted to connect with a diverse audience and inspire children worldwide.

 Alethia and Aaleiya, DBIS Grade 12 IBDP students, who conducted the Writers’ Workshop discussed the significance of adding depth to a story by developing well-rounded characters and exploring character motivations that drive the plot forward. In their words - “The workshop was a unique experience with many valuable takeaways. Interacting with various age groups allowed us to view our topic through a broader lens."

 Arianna, a DBIS Grade 6 student, who won an award in the 1-6 category, also served as a jury member for judging other categories. She expressed pride in her accomplishments, describing the journey as fulfilling and enriching from start to finish, and inspiring her to continue participating in many more competitions.

 Parents expressed appreciation for their children’s participation in the competition, recognizing it as an opportunity to develop their writing skills and talents.

 Participants from remote villages in India, as well as cities like Chennai and Kolkata, along with those from Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries, shared that the Story Writing Competition helped them improve their literacy skills and motivated them to continue writing.