Morocco Opens Writing Competition for Young Writers at SIEL

Young writers in Morocco have a new opportunity to showcase their talent as part of the 30th International Book and Publishing Fair.

Fez – The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication has announced the launch of the third edition of its writing competition for young writers. The event will take place as part of the 30th International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL), scheduled in Rabat from April 17 to 27, 2025.

This competition, organized in partnership with Connect Institute, aims to encourage youth 18 to 30 years old to bolster their talents in creative writing, giving them a platform to express their ideas and showcase their literary skills .

Theme and submission guidelines

For this year’s edition, participants must write on the theme: “Artificial Intelligence and Youth.”

They can submit their work in Arabic, Amazigh, French, or English. The ministry has set a deadline of March 19, 2025, for all entries.

Each submission must be between 3,000 and 6,000 characters, including spaces.

This is approximately four pages of text. Writers must also choose an original title that is different from the competition’s theme.

The competition requires that all submissions be authentic and unpublished, and that the text must not have won any previous awards or distinctions.

Selection process and jury

A jury of experts will review the submissions and evaluate them based on originality, clarity, creativity, and depth of analysis.

After selecting the best entries, the jury will invite the shortlisted candidates for an online interview to assess their perspectives and writing process.

Following these interviews, the jury will choose four winners, one for each language.

Prizes and award ceremony

The four winners will each receive a cash prize of MAD 10,000 (), and the awards will be presented at an official ceremony at the international fair.

This initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to promote reading, writing, and cultural expression among young Moroccans. It also reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence as a topic of discussion and its impact on future generations.