Spoken Word as a driver for global youth engagement



NGS challenges young Spoken Word artists from three continents, to find, develop and present their voices and act as 'change makers'.
Next Generation Speaks (NGS) is a two year partnership between ROOTS & ROUTES, Woorden Worden Zinnen (NL), Urban Woorden (Be), Brouhaha International (UK), Word N Sound (South-Africa) and Youth Speaks (USA).

NGS challenges young Spoken Word artists from three continents, to find, develop and present their voices and act as 'change makers'. We see Spoken Word not only as an art form but also as a way to empower young people and to stimulate active citizenship. NGS provides a platform where youngsters can freely express themselves and their voices are heard: a next generation of spoken word artists that use the stage and the internet to voice their personalities, ambitions and views on the future of our society.
In 2016, Spoken Word artists and Managers from the partners travelled to San Francisco and Johannesburg for a training and exchange.
With the knowledge and inspiration they have gained , the Spoken Word Artists in return will give workshops to youth in their local communities, which will lead up to small presentations. In 2017, a selection of them will get the opportunity to travel to Urban Woorden Leuven (B) or to Brave New Voices Festival (USA).
In the meanwhile we provide a digital platform where spoken word artists exchange with each other on a global level, via monthly writing challenges on diverse social media connected by #nextgenspeaks.
Last but not least, ROOTS & ROUTES and Woorden Worden Zinnen will organise an international conference in Rotterdam (NL ) in September 2017, the final stop of NGS!
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