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Poetry for Climate Action

26th January 2023

Climate change is happening, and there is a rising need to spread awareness on the issue.

Climate change is a complex and abstract topic which can contribute to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness. However, poetry can be an engaging, reflective tool to talk about issues that are hard to approach in everyday conversation.  Children in particular are ‘protected’ from forming any ideas or opinions on the matter, and this needs to be challenged as future generations are the ones who will be most impacted by the consequences of environmental crisis.

'We can positively impact, influence and inspire communities by improving the knowledge and understanding of children and young people'
DfE strategy for sustainability and climate change.

“Poetry for Climate Action” is a series of school visits by Bok Bok Books and CPRENEY aimed at raising awareness about climate change.  Children (from Years 3-6) will read poetry, learn about climate change, and write their own poetry, calling for climate action.

Bok Bok Books will be using its poetry anthology on water, ‘Floating Words,’ and its Bengali counterpart, ‘Jolebhasha Shobdomala,’ as a tool to initiate a discussion on the climate crisis.

A volunteer speaker from CPRENEY leads the conversation alongside a presentation made by The presentation Designer, focusing on both the global and local impacts of climate change. The speaker will help the children think of ways in which we can all contribute to tackle climate change.  The objective is to equip children with the words and concepts that will enable them to engage in conversations about the crisis and give them the opportunity to imagine themselves taking part in youth action and policy-making that reflects their needs.

Climate change is a complex topic to bring up in conversation – poetry will be the tool to make the topic accessible to a young audience – in reflective, experiential and transformative ways.

For more information please contact – info@cpreney.org.uk

Related articles:

Schoolchildren learn about climate change through poetry and verse – EXPLORING THE GREEN REVOLUTION (climatepost.co)