PEN International’s Tomorrow Club was created to connect young writers with mentors and the wider literary community. In an email interview, board member Ege Dündar said the project remains relevant because young voices are often unheard, even when those voices care deeply about their future. Aung, a regional editor from Myanmar and Asia representative on PEN’s Young Writers Committee, described how censorship across the region restricts what people can say and what they can read.
The latest Asia focus collected work by 30 contributors under 35 from 20 countries. The pieces range from prison testimony to refugee memories and activist accounts. Amanda Socorro Lacaba Echanis, a political prisoner from the Philippines, wrote from prison about pain and the courage that can emerge. Theodore Pham wrote about the secrecy and strain faced by activists protecting Vietnam’s civil society. Mayyu Ali described the uprootedness of the Rohingya and noted a cultural practice of placing the umbilical cord and placenta in a Hanri pot before burial.
Writers also told of people who fled Myanmar after the 2021 coup and later faced lack of legal status, scarce work, exploitation and the risk of being returned and forced into military service. A family escape story by Merry was adapted into a brief video animation. Dündar urged more support from media, foundations and institutions, and he said simple acts, like writing support letters, can build solidarity and make the struggles of persecuted writers more tangible.
- Planned activities: mentorship scheme
- Planned activities: anthology in print
- Planned activities: documentary and school programmes
Difficult words
- censorship — Official control over what can be published
- testimony — A person's spoken or written account
- refugee — Person forced to leave their country
- activist — Person who campaigns for political change
- solidarity — Mutual support among people or groups
- anthology — A collection of literary works in one volume
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How effective do you think mentorship and anthologies are for giving young writers a voice? Give reasons.
- What practical steps could media, foundations and institutions take to support persecuted writers beyond writing letters?
- How can personal stories from refugees and political prisoners influence public opinion or policy in your country?
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