The Power of Poetry in South Africa

Improve Education Fund
November 02, 2016

Youth Speaks Inc

Senior Poet Mentor MC K~Swift and COO Paula Arrigoni just returned from Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of an international initiative designed to build the capacity of spoken word groups around the world. Education is an equalizing force in the world, and South African students are using poetry to fight for their right to free education as part of the Fees Must Fall movement.

Our capacity building work in South Africa is part of an initiative called The Next Generation Speaks, an International cohort that includes Youth Speaks, Roots & Routes (Netherlands), Urban Worden (Belgium), Brouhaha International (United Kingdom), and Word N Sound (South Africa). The Next Generation Speaks challenges a diverse cross section of young people to find, develop, present, and apply their voices as creators of societal change.

The Next Generation Speaks will be coming to the Bay Area, bringing teams of young people from the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, and South Africa to participate in the 20th Annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival from July 19-22, 2017.

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