Poetry as a New Way of Breathing

Ezechiel Luccé on Literature, Community and the Future of the Poetry Contest.

How Does Poetry Help Young Voices Rise?

When Ezechiel Luccé speaks about poetry, he speaks of breath. Not metaphorically, but with a sincerity that feels almost physical. Educator in Les Gonaïves, Haïti and founder of E-Kri, he sees writing as a way to remain alive to the world... a gesture of clarity, resistance and connection.

“Poetry is a new way of breathing. A way to inhale truth and exhale everything we’ve been holding back.”

During the 2025 Poetry Contest, he served on the jury for the middle-school category, discovering dozens of young writers whose voices carried both fragility and promise.

“Poetry is another way of breathing,” Ezechiel told us. “It helps us understand what we live and gives us the courage to express ourselves.” For him, poetry holds a place that goes far beyond aesthetics. It is a tool of transformation, a space where young people learn to name what they feel, challenge what surrounds them and imagine new possibilities.

Ezechiel Luccé

His role as an educator shapes this conviction. He once wrote only for himself (quietly, privately) until working with young people changed his horizon.

“Teaching pushed me to open my writing. When you guide beginners, you learn to respect their first steps, welcome their voice, and help them grow without taking anything away from them.” That approach mirrors the spirit of the contest: a space where form does not restrict, where creativity is encouraged, and where authenticity is celebrated.

Looking back on the contest, he recalls being surprised by the lucidity of the students. “They were not constrained by rigid rules, and that freedom mattered. All of them carried something honest.”

“We want young people to express themselves"

This experience resonates naturally with the vision he pursues through the project E-Kri, launched officially in March. What began as a simple observation: too few teenagers were reading or writing, has grown into a movement that connects youth across communities and even across borders. Through reading workshops, writing circles and online gatherings with participants from other countries, Ezechiel seeks to cultivate a culture of expression, curiosity and dialogue.

For him, literature is not an isolated practice. It's a shared pathway. A collective act. “Our goals align”, he explained when asked about collaboration with Culture Without Border. “We want young people to express themselves, understand their world and connect with others. Literature brings people together beyond all borders.”

E-Kri: When Writing Becomes Liberation

At the heart of his work stands E-Kri (Écris, et crie!) a cultural initiative rooted in the belief that writing is both liberation and resistance. E-Kri creates space for voices that have been silenced or ignored, encouraging expression as an act of empowerment. The initiative unfolds through writing workshops, artistic encounters, public readings, exhibitions and publications.

Built through collaboration with cultural, educational and social partners, E-Kri fosters an inclusive environment where anyone can speak, write and be heard. It is literature not as a discipline, but as a living force: a space where personal expression deepens, even as collective ties grow stronger.

Looking Forward

As we prepare the next edition of the Poetry Contest, Ezechiel’s perspective reminds us why this contest matters. Poetry is essential. It offers young writers a space to discover themselves, reflect on their world and connect with others who share the same curiosity for language.

Ezechiel hopes to see even greater participation from Haitian youth in the coming year, he envisions future bridges between Culture Without Border and E-Kri.

“There is so much we can build together. So many young voices ready to rise.”

Protect a Space Where Every Voice Matters

The Poetry Contest is free for all young participants. To sustain this inclusive format (workshops, cross-border programming, international visibility) we rely on your support. Your contribution helps us offer a platform where young people can grow, reflect and express themselves with freedom.

If you believe in the power of poetry to open possibilities, your support makes all the difference !