YOUTH POETRY AND OPEN MIC

A line-up of young guest poets, followed by an open mic segment. Youth from Soweto (i.e. Eldorado Park, Noordgesig), Lenasia & other surrounding areas select their favorite original work relevant to the stipulated theme (mental health), as well as the larger themes of mental health & wellbeing – to be performed before a live audience. Open mic entrees strictly limited to performances in the category: poetry & spoken word artistry. The event offers a safe, creative space to amplify, appreciate, learn from, and celebrate young voices who will capture our vulnerabilities and truths from their perspective, while shining a light on mental health in the complex society we live in.
Living in impoverished, unregulated & overcrowded areas and enduring the trauma of a divided society is an affliction. It intends to position poetry as a “counsellor”, by harnessing the healing, transformative power of spoken word & poetry to strengthen mental health care gaps, impact Township youth & their sense of place by promoting inter-community connection & collaboration, offering a richer sense of what it means to be alive.