The 9th Taiwan Literature Award for Migrants (TLAM) is accepting submissions starting today until June 5, 2024. The competition is open to literary works in Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Filipino, and Burmese, with prizes totaling up to NT$350,000 (US$10,800). The initiative is to encourage migrant workers to express themselves in their native language, facilitating broader recognition of voices from abroad.
Sunday’s press conference stated that migrant workers, new immigrants, and their children were invited to submit works within 3,000 words, covering any theme. From each language, 50 works will be selected, translated into Chinese, and judged by a panel of writers, awarding prizes including a first prize of NT$150,000 (US$4,600).
The event coordinator Hsieh I-yun (謝易芸) emphasizes the importance of these stories as they are not only individual stories but also stories of Taiwan. The founder of TLAM, Chang Cheng (張正), believes promoting writing among Southeast Asian migrant workers fosters dialogue and understanding, enriching Taiwanese culture.