Famous writers compete for ‘tiny story’ on injustice against poor children

No fewer than 200 prominent world writers including novelists, playwrights and poet have joined a competition to craft ‘tiny stories’ of 7 lines to depict the injustice that most disadvantaged children face.

 The Communication Officer for the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) Blessing Ejiofor in a press statement said the short story was a global literary campaign designed to mark Universal Children’s Day.

According to the statement, the short story series kicks off UNICEF’s commemoration of its 70th year work to bring help and hope to every child. The writer would share the short stories with their readers.

Ejiofor said the First Lady of Finland, Jenni Haukio introduced the concept which gained global momentum with writers joining from Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

She explained that the group of writers, whose genres range from fairy tales to fiction, including the world’s youngest published authors, seven-year-old South African; Michelle Nkamankeng were participating in the short story series.

“The campaign comes at a time when there are increasing threats to child rights. Over 50 million children have been uprooted from their homes due to conflict, poverty and climate change and millions more are facing unspeakable violence in their communities.

“Around 263 million children are out of school and last year, nearly six million children below the age of five died from mostly preventable diseases.  

“It is shocking to see that the lives of many children are still so heavily impacted by the horror of conflict, inequality, poverty and discrimination. I hope these Tiny Stories can remind the world that we must sustain our commitment to all of these children whose lives and futures are at stake”