Words have the power to turn awareness of global issues into action and voices into change. In the final week of Term 3, Year 7 and Year 9 students participating in the Spoken Word Poetry Showcase ECA took to the stage to perform their original poetry to a supportive audience of Year 7 students, parents and teachers, who left feeling inspired by the students’ powerful visions for the future.
The 2026 theme, ‘Write Now: The World We Want’, invited students to imagine a future that is fairer, kinder and more sustainable. At the heart of the Showcase was the question: What kind of world do we want, and what must we do now to create it?
Imagining a Better Future
Students began by exploring what a better world might look like, sharing ideas around People, Planet, Peace and Justice, Happiness and Health, and Creativity and Education. They then selected a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that connected with an issue they cared about and researched the challenges, people and possible solutions connected to it.
Working collaboratively, students also created the collective list poem ‘Write Now: The World We Want,’ combining their strongest lines; this poem opened the showcase and celebrated the impact of collective voice.
Finding Their Voices
Students experimented with different poetic forms, including free verse, odes, limericks, cinquains, diamantes, shape poems and anaphoric poetry. They explored how poetic choices, language and structure can communicate ideas and inspire audiences.
They also learned that writing a powerful poem is only one part of spoken word, studying poets and activists and exploring techniques such as intonation, pace, purposeful pauses, articulation, gesture, facial expression, eye contact and stage presence. Through regular rehearsal, they built the confidence to transform their written words into compelling live performances.
Poetry Art Exhibition
Each student also designed a poetry art print, carefully selecting imagery, typography, colour and layout to complement the message and mood of their poem. Displayed at the showcase, these artworks demonstrated how students could communicate their ideas through both words and visual creativity.
Learning Through Mentors
Former 2024 Poetry Showcase ECA participants in Year 9 Alpha and Khongkwan returned as mentors. Having experienced the programme themselves, they worked alongside me to support Year 7 students with their writing and performance development while strengthening their own coaching and leadership skills.
From Young Writers to Published Authors
The showcase was the culmination of a year-long journey that saw students grow as writers, performers and globally minded young people. Their original poems have been compiled into the 2026 anthology, Write Now: The World We Want, which is also published as an e-book and archived in the National Library of Thailand.
As the facilitator and a spoken word poet, I am proud of the dedication, courage, empathy and creativity shown by this year’s students. This programme aims to empower young people to confidently communicate their visions for change and contribute to conversations about the future. Thank you to everyone who supported our young poets and made it an inspiring celebration of voices.
Watch, Read and Explore
You can experience students’ work by watching the full production via the YouTube video and exploring the 2026 Poetry Showcase Anthology E-Book.