Building on HKU’s School of English work in poetry, creative writing, and performance, this project introduces poetry to young women in Hong Kong as an expressive medium for exploring lived experience.

In an interactive workshop on 8 November 2026, participants will explore poetry inspired by lived experience, focusing on themes such as identity, gender, culture, and more. Participants will work primarily in English, while drawing on Cantonese or other languages as they wish. There will be opportunities to read, write and perform their work in groups. The workshop is designed for young women with limited access to institutional training in writing and performance, while welcoming young women across Hong Kong.

A spoken-word event on 15 November 2026, which welcomes all members of the public, offers an additional opportunity for live readings, celebration, and community building. It features poet Bonnie Wai-Lee Kwong, a Pushcart Prize nominee, and offers workshop participants an opportunity to share their poetry. The event includes optional open-mic slots for those who wish to share written work that is connected to young women’s experiences in Hong Kong.

Together, the workshop and spoken-word event aim to bridge literary, institutional, and local communities, introducing poetry—through writing and performing—as an accessible, stimulating form of expression.

Join us for an inspiring exploration of poetry as self-expression!

A workshop on 8 November and a spoken-word event on 15 November. Registration is required for each event. Those who have not attended the November 8 workshop are also welcomed to join the November 15 Spoken Word.