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y-poetry

Y'Poetry

Eastside Educational Trust is the London partner for Y'Poetry. This European poetry project links young people in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin and London and motivates them to read and write poetry inspired by the work of European poets. An initiative of the School der Poëzie in Amsterdam, Y'Poetry is coming to London in 2012 with schools across the capital taking part. Following a week of intensive workshops led by Dutch poets and teachers where students will be inspired by the work of poets including Wordsworth, Larkin and Hesse. London participants will take to the stage for the London preliminary rounds to select six winners who will travel to Amsterdam to perform alongside their European peers during a weekend of performances, workshops and cultural visits. 

If your school would like to be involved in Y'Poetry in 2014, please contact us for more information. 

Y'Poetry 2012 finalists during the winners weekend in Amsterdam

Click on the students' photos below to read their poems:

The London 2012 finalists are: Sam Stone (Fortismere School); Olamide Jeboda (St. Catherine's Catholic School for Girls); Isaiah Romain (Woodbridge High School); Ella Gilani (Woodbridge High School); Sarah Shoodipe (Haberdasher Aske's Hatcham College); Marcello Cotumaccio (Harrow High School Academy). There were also two awards made for best performance, these were presented to: Ché Thompson (Harrow High School Academy) and Hazel Bergeron-Stokes (Fortismere School). You can read their winning poems below.

international poem 

• 'amsterdam' a joint poem written by all the 2012 y'poetry finalists in the city archives of amsterdam

london 2012 best original poetry awards:

• 'snowglobe' by sam stone (fortismere school, haringey)
• 'football - and the old lady' by olamide jeboda (st catherine's catholic school for girls, bexley)
• 'hell's city' by izaiah romain (woodbridge high school, redbridge)
• 'city man' by ella gilani (woodbridge high school, redbridge)
• 'hidden' by sarah shoodipe (haberdasher aske's hatcham college, lewisham)
• 'me and my city' by marcello cotumaccio (harrow high school academy, harrow)

london 2012 best performance awards:

• 'promise' by hazel bergeron-stokes (fortismere school, haringey)
• 'unfinished dreams' by ché thompson (harrow high school academy, harrow)

The 2012 finalists travelled to Amsterdam for an all-expenses paid weeked where they attended a reception hosted by Carolien Gehrels (Deputy Mayor of Art and Culture in Amsterdam). They also performed their winning poetry at the Theater van't Woord alongside their peers from Amsterdam, Antwerp and Berlin. The finalists also had an opportunity to explore Amsterdam from a literary canal tour and discover the city archives at the Monument de Bazel. 

Y'Poetry is a European poetry project for young people aged 15-17 from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin and London. The European partners for 2012 are: Eastside Educational Trust in London, Villanella in Antwerp, Theater an der Parkaue in Berlin and School der Poëzie in Amsterdam.

Y'Poetry has been funded with support from the European Commission.