Story Stars glow with young talent
Story Stars glow with young talent
9 March 2026
Zaywin Gillion from Hawston Primary School in the Overberg Education District has joined the Story Stars Hall of Fame with his winning entry in the annual Story Stars creative writing competition.
His story “Felix and Felicity and the Crystal of Light” stood out for its imagination, strong vocabulary and excellent writing. The tale follows Felix and Felicity as they journey through forests and rising shadows, guided by the brave hero Zaywin who helps restore the Crystal of Light and save their world.
As the overall winner, Zaywin’s story was transformed into a fully animated short film narrated by him and featuring him as the hero. The final film brings his ideas to life with expressive animation and sound.
Watch the animated film here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/story-stars
Thank you to Hawston Primary School teacher Maurisia Booysen and principal Neil Pedro for supporting their learners, and to all the teachers and schools who entered this year. Booysen said teachers should encourage participation in Story Stars because children rarely get the opportunity to share their stories and imagination. She added that teachers can open that door by giving learners the platform they need to shine.
The top three winners for 2025 are Zaywin Gillion in first place for English, Jandré Visser from Overhex Primary in second place for Afrikaans and Yonakha Zwelindawo from Nduli Primary in third place for Xhosa.
The 2026 Story Stars competition is officially open to all Grade 4 learners in the Western Cape. Learners are invited to write the next instalment of Felix and Felicity’s adventures. One winner will be selected in Afrikaans, English and Xhosa and an overall provincial winner will be chosen. Entries close on 15 May 2026.
The overall winner will create and narrate an animated film and receive a tablet, book bag and branded stationery. The winning school will receive R10 000 for learning and teaching materials and the winning teacher will receive a book bag and voucher. Second and third place winners will each receive a tablet, book bag and stationery.
