CALL FOR STORIES SHOWING EVIDENCE OF AN ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Under the direction of In Koli Jean Bofane With the collaboration of the publisher Couleur Livres

In 2010, the COTA (a Belgian NGO) will launch a new collection.

The books published will be a collection of true stories illustrating the dynamism and creativity of the civil society from the Southern countries.

The media report poverty, disasters and defeatism and give us a poor image of Southern countries which are overwhelmed by adversity. This coming collection aims at going beyond this negative perception to favour another perspective and thereby give or reinforce confidence in the human potential of these regions.

We are looking for:

Vivid stories, ordinary tales showing significant initiatives undertaken by persons or collectivities from developing countries. The texts will relate to the following themes: childhood, woman and gender policy, social economy, microeconomic activity, education, health, mutual systems, HIV/AIDS, food security, resource management, environment and sustainable development, human, economic and cultural rights, urban issues, democracy and preventing conflicts, community based dynamism, information and communication...

Professionals will select the texts received and the best ones will be awarded and published in five books containing about ten stories each. Each book will be published in 1500 copies minimum. Their dissemination will take place in Belgium through COTA’s and the editor Couleur Livres networks as well as internationally in the French speaking communities.

The deadline to receive new texts will be defined soon.

Modalities for participation

There are two possible options to participate in this contest: either you write a complete story or you submit the main features of a story that the COTA will write.