Individuals over 65 have until October 1st to submit their unpublished texts for the 1st Senior Story Contest, organized by the Alcoy City Council in collaboration with Caixa Popular and the Fundación Mutua Levante. This year's central theme is unwanted loneliness, and participants are encouraged to share their personal or close experiences.
The complete contest rules can be consulted on the municipal website. Works must be original, unpublished, and not previously awarded. The maximum length is one and a half pages in DIN A4 format. Handwritten or digital texts are permitted (Verdana font, size 10). Submissions are anonymous, with no identifying data visible on the document.
The reception of works will be open until 12:00 AM on October 1st, 2026. Electronic submissions should be sent via email to Fundación Mutua Levante. For in-person submissions, the stories must be delivered to the Fundación Mutua Levante headquarters (Plaza de España), Mutua Levante Seguros offices (Carrer Roger de Llúria and Avinguda d'Hispanitat), Caixa Popular office (Avinguda d'Hispanitat), or the Alcoy Chamber of Commerce (Carrer Sant Francesc).
The contest will award three prizes: 200 euros for the first place, 150 euros for the second, and 100 euros for the third, in the form of gift cards for businesses associated with ACECA and Alicante Turismo Interior. Additionally, the digital magazine Tipografía La Moderna will publish the winning stories and three finalists.
“"From the City Council, we encourage seniors to participate in the short story contest under the theme Unwanted Loneliness. We want to know your stories, your memories, your experiences. Small life stories that have much to teach us and that above all deserve to be heard. Because talking about loneliness is also a way of accompanying and building community."
The Senior Citizen Councilor, Aroa Mira, highlighted the importance of these cultural spaces for the collective.
