To date, more than 220 students in American Samoa have been entered in a story competition sponsored by Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B) Pago and Eveni Carruthers Pago — and organized by Samoa’s newspaper, the Samoa Observer.

The inaugural Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition kicked off in May 2015. According to Marj Moore, Samoa Observer’s Newspapers in Education Co-ordinator, “For four years, the Samoa Observer has proudly watched the entries in our annual, national short story competition… double each year.”

Early this year, Moore came to Tutuila to promote the contest, which is a Pacific competition for adults 18 and over, and entries may be written in either English or Samoan.

Moore told Samoa News via email that Samoa Observer is thrilled with the response to this first promotion to take place in the territory. “This is the fifth year of our own annual competition in Samoa and so we decided to create a section for American Samoa to celebrate the ideas and writing of their students, too.”

Moore paid tribute to the parents and teachers who have encouraged their young people to write and to S.S.A.B. Pago and Eveni Pago for making the competition possible.

Schools involved include Aua Elementary, Peteli Academy, St Theresa’s, Manulele Tausala, Manumalo Baptist, the South Pacific International Christian Center School, Matafao Elementary, Pavaiai Elementary and Alataua Lua Elementary. High school students submitting stories are from Leone, Fa’asao Marist, Tafuna and Samoana high schools, and the American Samoa Community College (ASCC).

“We are fortunate in our choice of sponsors as they have gone over and above their financial commitment by helping promote the competition through the Pago Pago media and through school visits,” she said.

The stories, from close to 15 elementary and secondary schools and ASCC, will be judged separately from the Samoa competition.

“This project allows all children, not just a select few, to express themselves and to practice and improve their writing skills.”

The topic this year for both island groups is ‘My World — as it is or how you would like it to be’. Moore said this allows students to give their view of their lives, but it also allows them to dream about the kind of world they would like to live in.

As well as sharing the stories through the competition, Moore said this particular topic could lend itself well to the Tourism sector in the promotion of American Samoa and Samoa as a destination.

“The thoughts and ideas of our young people are fresh, often very revealing and inspirational,” said Moore.

For now, the stories are with the judges after which a prize giving ceremony will be held in Pago Pago around the end of April or beginning of May.