The DPZ Chair on Depopulation and Creativity has presented the awards for the eighth edition of «How Beautiful It Is to Live… in My Village», a competition that drew its highest-ever participation with 66 entries. The competition recognizes stories and videos by schoolchildren, young people, and people with intellectual disabilities that focus on rural life.
Competition on depopulation draws a record 66 entries
The awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, September 23, 2025, in the former assembly hall of the Zaragoza Provincial Council. More than 150 people, including award-winning participants, family members, and provincial council members, attended the event, which was hosted by journalist David Marqueta.
The eighth edition of «How Beautiful It Is to Live… in My Village» recorded the highest participation since the competition was launched. The initiative seeks to convey a vision of rural areas through the experiences of children, young people, and people with intellectual disabilities, with entries reflecting their ties to villages and their surroundings.
The competition awarded five prizes and five special mentions in the story and video categories. Winners received trophies and grants of between €250 and €500, intended for books, educational or recreational materials for participating institutions, as well as activities and cultural uses for their members.
Award-winning stories span Zaragoza, Ricla, Fuendejalón, and Épila
In the children’s story category, for participants aged 8 to 12, the prize went to Genoveva Adedoja Sipaco, of CEIP Monsalud de Zaragoza, for «A Journey to the Past». The special mention went to Paula Clavería Rodríguez, of CRA Las Viñas de Fuendejalón, author of «How Beautiful It Was to Live With My Grandfather!».
The youth story prize, for participants aged 13 to 18, honored Diego Cuartero Artigas, of IES Rodanas de Épila, for «Lumpiaque». The special mention recognized Carlota Cardiel Yus, of Colegio La Salle Franciscanas Gran Vía de Zaragoza, for the text «How Beautiful It Is to Live in My Village».
In the story category for people with intellectual disabilities, the award went to Sara Isabella Ramírez Arcos, of Colegio la Purísima para niños sordos de Zaragoza, for «Ricla». Montserrat Eugenia Calvo Aldana, of CRAP Calatayud Fundación Rey Ardid, received the special mention for «Small Villages, Cheap Houses».
Herrera de los Navarros, Alborge, Salvatierra de Esca, and Ejea feature in the videos
The prize in the children’s and youth video category, open to participants aged 8 to 18, went to «How Beautiful It Is to Live in My Village! Herrera de los Navarros, 2026», directed by Charo Guillén, of CEIP San Jorge de Herrera de los Navarros. The special mention went to «How Beautiful It Is to Live in Salvatierra de Esca!», directed by Raúl López, of CRA Río Aragón de Salvatierra de Esca.
In the video category for people with intellectual disabilities, the jury awarded «How Beautiful It Is to Live in Alborge!!!», directed by Náyade Vázquez, of Centro Ocupacional Santo Ángel ATADES de Zaragoza. The special mention went to «Ejea, There Is No Better Place», directed by Rosa Cris Guillén Pardo, of the Fundación Agustín Serrate de Ejea de los Caballeros.
The ceremony concluded with a performance by David Angulo, who performed «I’m From Oregon».
