1 in 4 Schools in Costa Rica Wrote a Story

Asociación Amigos del Aprendizaje (ADA) – Costa Rica

In 2025, the competition brought together around 500 schools. In 2026, that number more than doubled. More than 1,000 schools from across Costa Rica’s 27 educational regions — 25% of all schools in the country — participated in this year’s Mi Cuento Fantástico (My Fantastic Story), the national children’s writing competition led ADA.

With them came more than 5,000 stories written by third- through sixth-graders who put into words what they think, feel, and imagine.

That growth is not an accident. It is the result of 15 years of sustained work to show that creative writing is not a pedagogical luxury: it is a fundamental tool for children to develop their voice, critical thinking, and confidence. 

“When a student discovers they can write, they also discover they have something to say,” said Minister of Education Leonardo Sánchez Hernández. And that is exactly what is happening in classrooms across the country.

Renata Villers, ADA’s executive director, puts it precisely: “What begins as a story written in the classroom can become an experience that inspires classmates, families, and entire communities.” The award ceremony will take place on November 12. But the real prize is already written: thousands of children who discovered they have something to tell.