Story competition winner donates prize to school

A nine-year-old girl who won a story competition has donated her prize to her school library.

Pulan won the annual children’s contest with her story Loki, about a young girl who adopts a stray cat.

The theme of the competition – run by North Yorkshire organisation Settle Stories – was kindness.

Author Alex Falase-Koya, who judged the competition, said Pulan’s choice to give away the £100 book token “exemplifies the true spirit of kindness, proving that kindness is not just a theme in their stories but a value they live by".

He added: "Each story reminded me that kindness, when shared through the eyes of children, is not just an act but a way of seeing the world.”

Pulan’s mother Ying said she made the decision because she wanted to improve her school library’s resources.

Her story follows the journey of a young girl who adopts a stray cat, showering it with patience, love and kindness, despite its occasional bouts of wild behaviour.

The competition was part of the Yorkshire Festival of Story, which concludes on Sunday.

Children were asked to write 500 words, with the competition receiving more than 100 entries.

Settle Stories founder and artistic director Sita Brand said Pulan, from London, was chosen because it was a “gentle story that warmed your heart”.

She said: “It made us all feel good. Times are hard for everyone and this story warming our hearts meant we felt it was the winning tale.”

She added: “Pulan’s act is a fantastic act of generosity and kindness.

"It’s a wonderful way of being able to share.”

Settle Stories was founded 15 years ago after Ms Brand moved to Settle and decided to she wanted to share her love of stories.

Outside of the annual festival, the organisation works with schools and on heritage projects.

She said: “I wanted to share the power of stories to bring people together and to bring tourism to the area, because at that time lots of shops were closing.

“We live in a world that is very divided and if you hear someone’s story you can’t hate them.”

Ms Brand said she chose the theme of kindness for the competition because of the “sense of desperation” she felt when looking at social media and global events.

She said: “2024 has been a remarkable year, there have been elections around the world and there have been wars taking place and I needed a really positive thing – something to celebrate what each other has to offer.

“Acts of kindness are acts of revolution.

“Pulan’s gesture has made other people want to donate to the school, so it shows that acts of kindness can multiply.

“Kindness is an act and not passive – it’s a way to make positive change.”

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