Dar Si Hmad for Development, Education and Culture

100 Thousands Poets for Change, Hosted Poetry Event at Dar Si Hmad

Earlier this month Dar Si Hmad hosted an international poetry event at our center in Agadir. The event was made possible in collaboration with 100 Thousand Poets for Change, “100TPC” for short, an initiative established in 2011 by California poets Mr. Michael Rothenberg and Ms. Terri Carrion. Both Mr. Rothenberg and Ms. Carrion, along with their photographer, came to Morocco for their first time to join us for the event.

100TPC is a project that brings together poets, musicians and artists around the United States and across the globe in a poetry demonstration and celebration to promote peace, sustainability and social, environmental and political change. 100TPC helps motivated people from around the world organize a poetry event in their own community; students, both aspiring and established poets, musicians, travelers and community members all joined us at Dar Si Hmad for a day of poetry and expression.

At this event, there were poets from all ages, professions and languages. Well-known poets shared their work and artistry, aspiring writers were heard in public for the first time, and Canadian musicians encouraged the audience to be more conscious of our environment and resources. We listened to poetry and song in several languages--Arabic, French, Spanish and English--with each poem transmitting experiences, emotions, knowledge and passion in their own unique way.

Poetry is sustainable and is a driving force for peace and change in our world. Dar Si Hmad is proud and honored to have shared this moment with 100TPC and  members of our community. We are thankful for the efforts of everyone who made this event memorable and will continue to be inspired by the passionate poets who stood on stage to share with us a part of themselves. Thanks to 100TPC founders, Mr. Rothenberg and Ms. Carrion, for making the journey to Morocco and having Agadir be their very first stop before they made their way to other cities in the country to perform and connect with other poets and artists. Dar Si Hmad hopes that this event is the beginning of a long-standing relationship with 100 Thousand Poets for Change and other poets and artists in our very own community.

Dar Si Hmad was thrilled to host 100 Thousand Poets for Change because we believe in the impact poetry has on spreading peace within the society.

Renda Nazzal

Ethnographic School Liaison and Manager