09 - 15 NOVEMBER 2026
SCHOOL PROGRAMME
Inspiring young minds through stories, workshops & creative sessions
Supported by the John Mackintosh Educational Trust
The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival Schools Programme forms an essential part of the festival’s mission to inspire young minds and nurture a lifelong love of reading, writing, and storytelling. Each year, the programme brings together a diverse group of international and local authors who visit Gibraltar’s schools and engage directly with students through interactive talks, readings, and creative workshops.
This initiative, organised by Gibraltar Cultural Services on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, is supported by the John Mackintosh Educational Trust. Through the varied line-up, the programme continues to encourage imagination, curiosity, and creativity among students of all ages, fostering a vibrant literary culture within Gibraltar’s classrooms and beyond.
How It Works
The Schools Programme runs alongside the main festival and takes place across local schools and the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre. Authors deliver a series of inspiring sessions tailored to different age groups, ranging from fun and imaginative storytelling for younger children to in-depth creative writing and discussion sessions for older students.
Each participating school has the opportunity to host an author visit or attend a live session, allowing pupils to meet professional writers and illustrators, hear their stories, and ask questions about the creative process. These encounters aim to make literature feel accessible and exciting, showing students that storytelling exists not only in books but in every part of daily life.
The Schools Programme 2025 will take place during the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival, from 10 – 16 November 2025. Sessions will be held both in schools and at key festival venues, including the John Mackintosh Hall.
All events in the Schools Programme are free of charge to participating schools, thanks to the continued support of the John Mackintosh Educational Trust.
Teachers and school administrators interested in taking part can register their interest or request further details by contacting development@culture.gov.gi. Spaces are limited, so early booking is encouraged.
Interative Talks
Readings
Workshops
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS
James Mayhew
In his workshop, A Symphony of Stories, James will guide students through tales that inspired great classical music, including Debussy’s sunken city, Holst’s planets, and Stravinsky’s Firebird. As he paints live in time with the music, children will experience the magic of combining illustration and sound in a unique and engaging way.
Justin Rollins
His work explores youth culture, crime, and social identity, earning recognition across the academic spectrum will be part of the offering. His talk will focus on street art versus graffiti and explore how works by Banksy and others are recognised by some London councils as art, while font-style graffiti, which is rooted in the original subculture, is stigmatised, and often leads to prosecution. He frames this as a class struggle also threading his personal story through his talk.
Ian Moore
The leading stand-up comedian and TV personality will also be joining the Festival this year for both the general public and schools programme. Ian lives in rural France and will be focusing on his book ‘Death and Boules’, a murder mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Julia Chapman or MC Beaton. This follows on from his best-selling book ‘Death and Croissants’.
Molly McElwee
Is a journalist specialising in women’s sport and tennis, as well as writing about football and Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. She has written for the Daily Telegraph and hosted the ‘Off the Bench’ podcast. In 2024 she won the Tom Perrotta Prize, awarded by the International Tennis Writers’ Association (ITWA) to a writer aged 35 or under who shows excellence in tennis journalism.
LOCAL AUTHORS
Rebecca Fa
Introduces Me Acuerdo: Memories of Gibraltar’s Old Town, a community oral history project capturing the voices and experiences of older generations. Her workshop will invite children to explore the importance of preserving living memory, with interactive activities encouraging students to share and record their own family stories.
Melanie Piñero
Is a primary school teacher and she presents Warrior: A Tale of Courage, inspired by her own personal journey. Her session highlights resilience and self-belief, encouraging students to see challenges as opportunities for growth and courage.
Kieron Prescott
Brings his novella The Shadows We Call Home, a thought-provoking tale blending philosophy and fantasy. His workshop will use illustrations, thought experiments, and discussion to encourage older students to reflect on their inner world, challenge limiting beliefs and leave with a greater sense of self-awareness.
Karim Vatvani
Will present his latest work Marathon Vat, a story promoting multiculturalism and navigating differences in language barriers and cultures to help each other globally.
Sonia Golt BEM
Is an experienced journalist and broadcaster, shares her most recent publication The Curtain Call, a thriller exploring obsessive love. Sonia’s long literary career, spanning poetry, short stories and children’s books, will inspire students to embrace storytelling in all its forms.
Lenka Tryb
Illustrator and storyteller, brings her picture book The Great Rumble to younger audiences. Lenka was inspired by her experiences with working with children and created a story about how feeling safe and at home can at times appear under threat and how hope and friendship is an essential element in our journey when faced with change and adversity.
Manolo Galliano
Gibraltarian author and historian with a lifelong passion for the Rock’s history and culture. He has written several books about Gibraltar’s streets, churches, and traditions, including A Rocky Labyrinth, Beyond the Ramparts, and Pan Dulces & Mince Pies, which celebrate our unique Llanito heritage.
Shane Dalmedo
Author of Gustavo Bacarisas, an illustrated book on one of Gibraltar’s most prolific artists, will be delivering storytelling sessions to young people. Shane is a successful mixed media artist and illustrator having exhibited in UK, Spain and Morocco and is also nominated for a Gibraltar Cultural Award 2025, for the second year running.
Alice Mascarenhas MBE
Local journalist and broadcaster will be presenting a book on her later father, a prominent journalist and broadcaster, Manolo Mascarenhas. He was known for his Radio Gibraltar 1960s broadcast of ‘Palabras al Viento’, which covered Gibraltarian life between 1946 and 1972.
Professors Clive & Geraldine Finlayson & Dr Stewart Finlayson
This family trio of researchers from the Gibraltar National Museum will present an engaging talk on Gibraltar’s history and geography. Drawing on decades of firsthand research, they will explore how the Rock’s unique environment shaped its identity, sharing discoveries from their work on Neanderthals and biodiversity. Illustrated with striking photography and rare archival images they will offer GCSE and A Level students a vivid, personal insight.
