Sixth edition of the Story and Arts Marathon

The University of Azuay - together with the Municipal Directorate of Culture and the Ecuadorian Association of Children and Youth Book Girándula - organized the sixth edition of the Story and Arts Marathon from 24 to October 26.

The event had the cultural support of the La Asunción Individual Educational Unit, the Federation of Catholic Establishments of Cuenca and the French Alliance of Cuenca. 

The appointment - which annually summons thousands of children, youth and adults with the desire to instill in them the taste for reading and the culture of the book - welcomed several Ecuadorian writers such as Ana Carlota González, Liset Lantigua, Patricia Enderica, Edna Iturralde , Leonor Bravo, Juana Neira, Oswaldo Encalada, Verónica Oviedo, among others.

During the program, 15 national and local writers read their stories, signed their books and shared their experiences with children from different schools in Cuenca, including the Educational Unit Our Family, Educational Unit Herlinda Toral, La Salle, and others. 

"This type of space is very important, since children can develop their taste for reading outside the classroom and, additionally, they have direct contact with writers and this motivates them to read," said Bernarda Maza, teacher of La Asunción Private Educational Unit and added:

"In the case of teachers, this event allows us to generate new spaces for children to develop their creativity and acquire a taste for reading and books." 

Parallel to the marathon, there was also the Children's and Youth Book Fair, in which recognized publishers and bookstores in the country participated; and a national illustration exhibition.

Similarly, on October 24 and 25, talks and workshops were held by renowned writers and reading mediators, which included the presence of more than 200 teachers, students and librarians.

One of the main activities of the meeting was the uninterrupted reading - during 10 hours - of stories by authors, reading mediators and invited international personalities.

UDA Correspondent