Rama Altaleb, a 17-year-old Syrian immigrant, in Nanaimo wins the 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award for Youth Authors.
After moving to Canada in 2018, Rama began to reflect on her childhood and her life in Syria and the Zaatari Camp in Jordan. This inspired her to write her first story, “Lost Childhood,” which won the award.
Authors between the ages of 13 and 17 were asked to submit a short story under 3,000 words. Rama was amongst 6 other authors that have been shortlisted for the award. The prize in this category is $5,000 and a mentorship lunch with editors of The Walrus. Moreover, her story will be published on thewalrus.ca later this year.
Winning this award has proven to me that I am on the right track and has assured me that I’ll achieve my dream of writing my memoir in the future. – Rama Altaleb.
Besides writing and high school, Rama is an active member of her community. She also volunteers at the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society.
On behalf of CVIMS, we want to congratulate Rama on this incredible achievement. Not only for this but all she does for the community. – Jennifer Fowler, Executive Director at CVIMS.
For more information about the Award and candidates, please visit The Walrus Award link.
