Celebrating Creativity: The 3rd Poetry Contest Comes to a Close

Celebrating the Young Laureates of the 2025 Poetry Contest

The 3rd edition of the International Poetry Contest, organized by Culture Without Border in partnership with the Gabadito Foundation, has once again shone a spotlight on the power of words, creativity and the diversity of the French language across the globe !

This year, the “Young Poets” category brought together hundreds of students from all levels (from preschoolers discovering rhyme to teenagers exploring deeper themes of identity), memory and culture. We are thrilled to announce the winners, whose poems touched the hearts of our international jury and reflected the vibrant spirit of la francophonie.

Discover the full list of laureates on our official contest page : HERE

A Contest : the World Together

Year after year, the Poetry Contest grows in scope and impact. With participants from France, Peru, Togo, Liban, Canada, Asia, Germany, Netherlands, Chile, Brasil, Morocco, Madagascar, New Caledonia, the US and beyond, the contest proves that poetry knows no borders. Each submitted poem becomes a unique bridge: between languages, cultures, generations, and imaginations.

This year, the young laureates impressed us with their creativity: from poems celebrating the ocean (“Bonjour l’Océan”), the ship Hermione ("L’Hermione, Messagère du Vent Libérateur”), and the beauty of nature (“Les Châteaux de Sable”), to verses exploring nostalgia (“Le bal du cerf-volant”), personal expression (“L’âme”), and freedom (“Je t’aime France, mais ton oubli me crucifie”).

Their voices remind us that the French language is not only a heritage, but also a living, breathing medium of invention and connection.

Our Deepest Gratitude to the Jury

This celebration could not exist without the dedication of our international jury, whose time, expertise and passion made this edition possible. Coming from backgrounds as diverse as education, literature, diplomacy, art, translation, cultural management and even health care, their perspectives enriched the contest immeasurably.

Among them: Dalila Tair, Janick Aubineau, Ezechiel Luccé, Sylvie Joseph-Julien, Dr. Jessica Grichy, Nathalie Guérin De Vos, Estelle Truche, Audrey Sebastiao, Sébastien Pridmore, Nathalie Lauro, Aurélie Milanini, Lina Ribeiro, Amy Lou, Emma Henry, Marc Bordier, Rouksana Simjee, Isabelle Balot, Marion Fritsch, Marie-Anne Poudret, Hadrien, Tiphaine Lamolinerie, Faustine Betouin, Manuel Ventureira, Ana Isabel Varela, Amy de Rouvray, Léa Caubert, Maia Benefield, Michèle Lhuillier, Sandrine, Véronique Vassout, Caroline, the team at the Alliance Française de Santa Cruz, and so much more !

Each of them brought their unique voice and cultural lens to the table, ensuring that every poem was read with care and respect. To all jury members, we say thank you for lifting the voices of our young poets.

Thanks, partners and sponsors

Beyond the jury, the Poetry Contest thrives thanks to an incredible network of partners, sponsors and supporters.

We are grateful to the organizations who helped us share the contest with the world, including: French Heritage Society, French Morning, Lepetitjournal.com, Lesfrancais.press, Bouche à Oreille, Mexico Accueil, Surinam Accueil, SJJ Agency, The Instituto Frances Chile, the Consulate General of France in China, the Consulate General of France in Houston and the Consulate General of France in San Francisco.

A special thank you goes to our sponsors, who generously offered wonderful prizes for our laureates: Bayard Milan, Lireka, Docteur Sirop, Clotilde Bookstore, Gabadito Fondation, the SJJ Agency, and many other benefactors who believe, in the transformative power of poetry.

Their contributions allow us not only to reward our winners with books, subscriptions, and unique gifts, but also to continue expanding the reach of the contest.

We would also like to acknowledge Thomas Célérier, the founder of the contest, whose vision and dedication gave birth to this project three years ago. What started as a modest initiative has now become an international meeting point for poets, and cultural institutions.

To Thomas and to all those who have joined us in making this adventure possible (from teachers who guided their students to families who encouraged creativity) we extend our heartfelt gratitude.

What’s Next?

This is not the end of the celebration. While the young laureates are being honored today, the Adult Category results will be announced very soon, promising another wave of powerful and inspiring voices !

And of course, we are already preparing the 2026 edition. Each year, the contest grows stronger, more inclusive and more global. We cannot wait to welcome back our returning poets and discover new talents who will join this unique adventure.

To all participants, partners, sponsors, and supporters: thank you for making the 2025 Poetry Contest a resounding success. Rendez-vous next year for another edition where words will once again transcend borders and bring hearts together.