Here at the International Creative Writing Society (ICWS), we promote, edit and publish an annual collection of creative writing and art as part of a collaborative partnership between the University of Juba and University of York. This year we have opened our submissions to students across the world!

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The ICWS first started its life as the 'York-Juba Anthology'. We started after our first editor, Anthea Gordon, personally visited Juba in 2011. At the time, South Sudan had recently gained independence following several civil wars between 1995 and 2005 and Gordon experienced first-hand the new country's struggles. After her journey, she felt the need and potential for a positive creative outlet within the country.

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She built a team in York that would work closely with the staff and students at the University of Juba to create 'The York-Juba Anthology' (now ICWS). Here she hoped the anthology would provide a space where students from Juba and York alike were able to explore their talents and reflect upon their cultural experiences.

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Since those exciting beginnings, ICWS has grown and incited more interest from poets and artists from all over. So starting in 2019 ICWS has opened submissions to students all over the world, under any theme their abundant creativity can dream of.