The work includes 96 pieces by students from 14 regions who participated in the National School Mining Award as part of PERUMIN 36.

The Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP) unveiled the latest edition of the book The Earth and Its Minerals, a collection of 96 short stories written by students from 14 regions across the country. These stories were submitted for the National School Mining Award as part of the PERUMIN 36 Mining Convention, held in September 2023.

Tomás Gonzáles, president of the National School Mining Award, provided details about the work during his participation in the first PERUMIN Jóvenes event held at the IIMP headquarters in La Molina. He stated that the total number of stories included in this book reflects the commitment and passion that young people have for understanding and appreciating mining in Peru.

The authors of the stories are primary school students in first, second, and third grades who participated in the National School Mining Award contest and come from the regions of Áncash, Apurímac, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huánuco, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Moquegua, Puno, San Martín, and Tacna.

While the stories of all participants were published, three were awarded: Edwin Félix, with the story "Pachamama" from Belén de Osma y Pardo School (Apurímac); Fabiana Alvarado, who wrote "Antay" and studies at Jorge Basadre Grohmann Educational Center (Arequipa); and Brandon Rosas, from Tiracoma School (Puno), who submitted the story "The Origin of Gold."

In July 2023, the first edition of "The Earth and Its Minerals" was released, gathering 90 stories from students who participated in the first National School Mining Award contest. This edition was presented at the Ricardo Palma Book Fair, the Cajamarca Book Fair, the Hay Festival in Arequipa, and the International Book Fair.

Tour Across the Country

Tomás Gonzáles also mentioned that the current National School Mining Award, organized by the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP) with the support of the Universidad Católica de Santa María, School of Mining Engineering, closed its call for entries on October 25.

He added that 240 works were submitted in the four categories: short story, theater, model, and social responsibility project, which will now be evaluated by a jury of 12 people from the mining sector, academia, and the arts.

Finally, he noted that the participants come from 15 regions. The list of projects also includes works in Quechua, as highlighted by Gonzáles, who announced that the winners will be announced on November 18 and awarded on November 28, during the week of the 81st anniversary of the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers.