PEN International’s Tomorrow Club brings young writers together with mentors and members of the literary community. Board member Ege Dündar said the club is still important because many people do not listen enough to young voices who care about the future. Aung, a regional editor from Myanmar and a steering representative for Asia at PEN’s Young Writers Committee, pointed to censorship in many parts of Asia as a major limit on what people can say and read.
The Asia focus gathered 30 young voices under 35 from 20 countries. Contributions include a political prisoner writing from jail, activists who must hide their identities, and displaced communities. One writer described how the Rohingya keep cultural traditions despite statelessness, and another described the risks faced by Myanmar citizens who fled to Thailand after the 2021 coup.
Dündar asked media, foundations and institutions to support platforms, mentorships and opportunities for young people. Planned activities include a mentorship scheme, an anthology in print, a documentary and school programmes.
Difficult words
- mentor — an experienced writer who gives advicementors
- censorship — the control of what people may say or read
- displaced — forced to leave their homes or country
- statelessness — not having any legal nationality or citizenship
- anthology — a book with a collection of writings
- platform — places or services for people to share ideasplatforms
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is it important to listen to young voices about the future? Give one or two reasons.
- How can censorship affect what people read and write in a country?
- Which of the planned activities (mentorship, anthology, documentary, school programmes) would you find most useful and why?
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