La Serena, July 14, 2026.
The “Literary Contest” initiative collected submissions from the provinces of Elqui, Limarí, and Choapa, thereby using literature to help promote appreciation for and protection of one of the most important marine ecosystems in Chile and the world.
At a press conference on Monday, July 13, the jury of the second “Humboldt Archipelago in 110 Words” literary contest announced the names of the winners in the children’s, youth, and adult categories.
The initiative, launched by Fundación Sphenisco Chile, invited girls, boys, teenagers, and adults to express their connection to the ocean, biodiversity, and the communities of the Humboldt Archipelago through short stories.
In the second competition, entries from the winners in the provinces of Elqui, Limarí, and Choapa were particularly impressive. The municipalities of the winners include Los Vilos, Salamanca, Illapel, Ovalle, Vicuña, La Higuera, Coquimbo, and La Serena. This reflects the interest in the Coquimbo region in learning about, appreciating, and protecting this important ecosystem.
Nancy Duman, Executive Director of the Sphenisco Chile Foundation, expressed her delight at the enthusiastic response, the presence of the winners, and the presentation of the essays: “This time, the wide range of participants was particularly impressive: girls, boys, teenagers, and adults all took part. We’d also like to point out that the Humboldt penguin was the most common subject, along with whales, dolphins, other species, and marine life. This underscores the public’s concern for this species.”
Jury and Selection Process
The submitted entries were evaluated by Elena Jiménez (poet, reading advocate, and chair of the jury), Héctor Cossio (journalist and editor at El Mostrador), José Aguilera (professor, writer, and researcher), Gabriel Canihuante (journalist and writer), and Yennifer Vallejos Meriño (educator and specialist in cultural heritage and archival science).
During the press conference, Gabriel Canihuante and José Aguilera, representing the jury, announced the results and highlighted the quality, creativity, and environmental awareness reflected in the submitted stories.
José Aguilera explained: “Just like the first time, it was a very enriching experience. Many of the stories touched on a wide variety of topics. As a member of the jury—or rather, what I focus on in particular—are stories that deal with the people of this region. Many of the entries focused on artisanal fishermen and the Chango people—simply wonderful.”
Matilda Amancay Rodríguez, Sofía Valdés, Josefa Carrasco, María Eugenia Berguecio, and Carmen Gloria Clavijo read their award-winning stories live. The stories by Matías Barraza and Francisco Mucientes were presented in audiovisual format.
Matilda Amancay, the winner in the children’s category, expressed her joy at her victory and took the opportunity to encourage more children to participate. When asked what motivated her to enter, the girl from Vicuña emphasized: “What inspired me to enter this contest is the protection and preservation of the Humboldt Archipelago, because its preservation and protection are very important.”
Josefa Carrasco, who received an honorable mention in the youth category, said, “This recognition means a great deal to me because it shapes you as a person.” She was able to participate thanks to the information her school had provided.
Francisca Berguecio, who took second place in the “Adults” category, said of her participation: “I’m from this region; I’m from the desert … and I really wanted to be here. When we take part in events like this, we fall in love with this place and help others discover it, too. We in Chile have this magnificent and wonderful place, the Humboldt Archipelago.”
The contest brought stories to life and gave the protagonists the opportunity to convey messages about species conservation, ocean protection, and our shared responsibility for preserving the “Humboldt Archipelago” natural heritage.
The mayor of La Higuera, Uberlinda Aquea Barraza, emphasized the importance of promoting cultural and educational initiatives that help communities and younger generations learn about the ecosystem. The mayor said, “This competition is wonderful; it highlights the importance of the Humboldt Archipelago and raises awareness of this beautiful area and its people—in this case, both in the region and throughout the country.” She went on to say that “art is an important tool for social change and for highlighting our heritage.”
Sailing Trips Through Marine Protected Areas
The first-place winners in each category will take part in a boat trip on the ocean off Chañaral de Aceituno, Atacama Region, in November. The second- and third-place winners will take a boat trip through the “Pingüino de Humboldt” National Reserve in Punta de Choros. Both experiences offer an opportunity to get up close and personal with the biodiversity, landscapes, and wildlife that inspired this literary contest. The goal is to (further) develop the winners’ connection to the region and deepen their understanding of the ecological significance of the Humboldt Archipelago.
Acknowledgments
Fundación Sphenisco Chile thanked all the girls, boys, young people and adults for taking part. It also extended its thanks to their families, teachers, the members of the judging panel, the authorities, the media and: We would like to thank:
The Sphenisco Chile Foundation expressed its special thanks to Sphenisco Germany, the Rostock Zoo, and Dierenpark Rhenen. Their support played a decisive role in making this initiative a reality and in further developing measures for environmental education, awareness, and the protection of the Humboldt penguin and its habitat.
The competition made it clear that nature conservation can also be inspired by imagination, emotions, and stories. This opens up new ways to get to know and appreciate an area that serves as a sanctuary for biodiversity and represents a shared responsibility for present and future generations.
Winners
Category: Girls and Boys
First Place: “The Stars in the Blue Whale” by Matilda Amancay Rodríguez Rojas from Vicuña.
Second Place: “A Strange Disappearance” by Sofía Valdés Vega from La Serena.
Third Place: “The Dolphin Heroes” by Kelly Kataleya Arauz Velasco from Vicuña.
Category: Teenager
First Place: “The Last Colony” by Matías Cristóbal Barraza Barraza from Los Vilos.
Second Place: “Krill and Its Importance to the Ocean” by Andrey Tovar Salamanca from Salamanca.
Third Place: “If It Were My Last Blue Breath” by Sofía Magdalena Araya Pinto from Illapel.
Category: Adults
First Place: “The Song That Never Fades” by Francisco Javier Mucientes Aguirre from Ovalle.
Second Place: “A Day of Celebration on Isla Chañaral” by María Eugenia Francisca Berguecio Neira from La Higuera.
Third Place: “Too Late” by Maritza Gaioli from Coquimbo.
Fundación Sphenisco Chile
notes
For the sake of readability, the generic masculine form is used in this article.
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms used to refer to people in this article apply to all genders.
(1) The article “Segundo concurso literario «El archipiélago de Humboldt en 110 palabras»: dio a conocer a sus ganadoras y los ganadores” was published by Fundación Sphenisco Chile. https://www.sphenisco.cl/noticias
(2) The digital local newspaper “El Comunal” published the article in its entirety on July 14, 2026.
translated by Claudia Fawer
