Stories can take us into other people’s lives, help us see the world differently and make distant issues feel personal.
Through Global Stories, an initiative part of iLEGEND III, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe: co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe invites individuals, groups, schools and organisations to explore a global issue through fiction, and spark readers’ critical thinking.

Participants are invited to write a story connected to global education, human rights or sustainable development. Possible themes include freedom of speech, refugees’ rights, democratic participation, women’s rights, environmental justice and digital rights.

The story should let readers experience its theme through characters, events and choices, not explain it like an essay. Critical thinking should be at its heart, encouraging readers to question assumptions and see an issue from a new perspective.

Stories must be written in English or French, while not exceeding 3500 words (approximatively 10 pages).     
Participants must also complete the application form and agree with general conditions.

 Eligible stories will be assessed for their impact, originality and clarity of message.

One selected story will be brought to life as a graphic novel by a professional illustrator and published as a Global Education resource on the North-South Centre webpage. The winner will also be featured in an article and receive a signed certificate. Everyone who submits an eligible story will receive a certificate of participation.

  Interested are invited to read the call, send the story to [email protected] and complete the form by 22 November 2026 at 12:00 a.m. CET.

 The selected author will be notified by 7 December, and the winning story will be published mid-December.

 To know more about the Global Education Week, visit the webpage. 

The Global Stories initiative is part of the Global Education Week, an awareness-raising event implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe and the Global Education Network in the framework of the iLEGEND III, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe: co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.