Elisabeth Kostova Foundation: Poets Without Borders

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
NGO Name: Elisabeth Kostova Foundation  -  Location: Bulgaria

THE CHALLENGE

Bulgarian students, particularly in smaller towns and marginalized communities, face systemic barriers to creative education. Creative writing is absent from the national curriculum, and literature is taught through outdated, rigid methods that hinder original thinking and creativity. This contributes to low performance in national exams, diminished functional literacy, and low PISA scores in creative problem-solving. Broader consequences include disengagement from culture and the undervaluing of creativity. Poets Without Borders addresses this gap by fostering creative expression and literacy through free poetry workshops. Our pilot program demonstrated both a critical need and significant potential for cultivating a new generation of engaged creative thinkers.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Poets Without Borders is a national creative writing initiative empowering youth aged 13–17 from small towns and marginalized communities in Bulgaria. Through free, mentor-led poetry workshops, students develop original writing skills, critical thinking, and self-expression. Each three-day workshop includes writing exercises, group discussions, feedback sessions, and public readings. The project fosters a supportive community of young poets while engaging teachers and parents in more dynamic approaches to literary education. Following a successful pilot, the 2025 edition will expand to four new locations, with workshops designed in collaboration with local schools and educational partners. 

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Before this workshop, I didn’t think poetry was for me. We never really wrote creatively in school — it was always about memorizing or analyzing. But here, we were encouraged to express ourselves and experiment. At first, I was nervous, but the mentor helped us see that there are no wrong words. By the end, I had written several poems I’m really proud of, and I even read one in front of an audience. Now, I feel more confident in my writing and myself. I didn’t just learn about poetry — I learned that my voice matters. 

Veronika, 16-year-old Participant from Razgrad