MVO Creative Writing Competition 2026: The Mermaid’s Tale
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) has officially launched its 2026 Creative Writing Competition, inviting children, students and adults across Montserrat to put their creativity to work through poetry.
This year’s theme, “The Mermaid’s Tale,” challenges participants to imagine the experiences of the Mermaid of Chance’s Peak following the Soufrière Hills volcanic eruption.
The theme encourages participants to reflect on the human experiences behind Montserrat’s volcanic history, including displacement, changing communities, loss, adaptation, resilience and the evolving meaning of home.
Participants will draw inspiration from the real experience of someone affected by the eruption and its aftermath, then creatively retell that experience through the voice of the Mermaid.
The Challenge
Write a poem from the point of view of the Mermaid of Chance’s Peak and let her tell her tale.
Imagine how she experienced the eruption and the changes that followed. Through her voice, share her memories, how she coped, the journey that followed, and what home in Montserrat means to her today.
This approach allows participants to combine real experiences and memories with creative storytelling, helping to preserve and explore an important part of Montserrat’s history from a new perspective.
Competition Categories
The competition is open to participants in the following categories:
Grades 1–2
Grades 3–4
Grades 5–6
MSS
MCC
Adults
Cash Prizes to Be Won!
Cash prizes will be awarded to winning entries across the competition categories.
Competition Guidelines
Before submitting your poem, please ensure that it meets the following requirements:
- Only one entry per person will be accepted.
- Entries must be the participant’s original work.
- The poem must be inspired by the real experience of someone affected by the Soufrière Hills volcanic eruption and its aftermath.
- Participants may use their imagination to tell that experience through the voice of the Mermaid of Chance’s Peak.
- Entries must not have been previously published.
- Participants must currently reside on Montserrat.
- Poems must not exceed the word limit specified for the participant’s category.
- Each entry must clearly include the participant’s name and competition category.
- Students must also include their class and school.
How to Enter
Email your poem to mvooutreach@gmail.com OR Students may submit their entries at their school office.
Deadline: November 6 2026
All entries must be received by the competition deadline.
Whether you experienced the eruption yourself or are learning about it through the memories of someone else, we want you to listen, imagine and create.
Let the Mermaid speak. What is her tale?
