More than 220 stories from American Samoa students have been entered in a story competition sponsored by Samoa Stationery and Books, Pago and Eveni, Pago and organised by the Samoa Observer.

Organising Committee member, Marj Moore said the Committee 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.”  Ms. Moore paid tribute to the parents and teachers who had 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 School, Peteli Academy, St Theresa’s, Manulele Tausala, Manumalo Baptist, the South Pacific International Christian Ctr School, Matafeo Elementary, Pavaiai Elementary, Alataua Lua Elementary, Leone High, Fa’asao Marist, Tafuna High, Samoana High and the American Samoa Community College.

“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 Schools, Secondary Schools and the American Samoa Community College, will be judged separately from the Samoa competition.

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

The topic this year for both countries 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.

Meanwhile the deadline for entries in Samoa’s competition is Monday 18 April and the sponsors are Samoa Stationery and Books and Eveni with some special prizes from Bluesky Samoa.