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MLP Short Story Competition

Morocco has a rich storytelling tradition, and we're thrilled to help launch a new generation of storytellers each year. The writers are high school students studying English from every corner of the country. This national initiative evolved out of our longstanding program Morocco Library Project (MLP). 

2025, Our 4th Competition

Empowering Communities: The Spirit of Civic Responsibility

This year's theme was civics and how we live together as community. Doesn't the world need this now more than ever? The young writers have a lot to say on this! Stay tuned for the 4th anthology, coming out in late 2025. 

The 3rd Anthology in Print!

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Our theme in 2023-24 was "family resilience," and the book, now in print, is a beauty. Look for it in bookstores in Morocco — and soon in Costa coffeehouses. Teachers, please contact us if you'd like copies.

Costa Goldex Young Writer's Prize

We are thrilled that Costa Coffee honored two of our student writers with their Goldex Young Writer's Prize at the Marrakech English Book Festival in Jan 2025. It is exciting to see budding young talent honored in this way, and we are so thankful to Costa. Ghizlane Derouich from Errachidia Province was honored for taking 1st Prize in the 3rd MLP Short Story Competition and Rim Berrada from Biougra for taking 1st in Morocco in our 2024 Youth Essay Competition. Learn more about Costa Coffee's Goldex Book Awards here.

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Earlier Editions

Once upon a time in the heart of the Atlas mountains...

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The 2nd anthology (2021-22) is available at the Alfajr Book Store in Fes. The 1st book (2020), is available free as a PDF; this edition features a story from the perspective of a boy with autism, from young writer Hiba Bakertit.

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The Short Story Team

Moulay Larbi Arbaoui, project manager & reviewer

Barb Mackraz, project manager & reviewer

Philip Brebner, judge

Mohammed Hassim, judge

Mouhcine Abdechchafi, reviewer & judge

Alice Calaprice, reviewer & editor

Khrouch Hafid, book designer

Zakariaa Tmalah, illustrator

Hajar Azizi, illustrator

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We envision a world where people everywhere have equal access to quality education and sustainable livelihoods, enabling them to maintain a strong, literate, resilient community; build a positive future for their children; and become custodians of a healthy environment. 

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Oliveseed Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations in the U.S. are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Oliveseed Foundation

P.O. Box 60713

Palo Alto, CA, USA 94306

EIN 82-1693564

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Oliveseed Kenya Trust

P.O. Box 77

Narok, Kenya 20500

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© 2014-25 Morocco Library Project

© 2017-25 Oliveseed Foundation

© 2021-25 Oliveseed Kenya Trust

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