Just in time for World Poetry Day, 70 learners from four schools south of Durban are celebrating something most writers only dream of – seeing their words in print!
Durban, South Africa (20 March 2026) – How amazing is this?! Just in time for World Poetry Day on March 21, 70 young poets from four schools south of Durban are getting to celebrate something so special – they’re published poets!
Their words, stories, and hearts are all captured in a beautiful new anthology called Belonging, lovingly compiled and edited by Durban poet Kemera Moodly.
Four schools came together for the project, which kicked off last year. Grade 10 learners from Meadowlands Technical High School, Apollo Secondary School, Protea Secondary School, and Southlands Secondary School all put pen to paper and submitted their poems for consideration.
The anthology, now complete, features 70 poems from 70 learners.
“I wanted to give young adults the freedom to use their voice, to encourage independent thinking and creative writing, to inspire self-reflection and to uplift participating learners by having their poetry formally published in a printed anthology,” says Kemera.
The Chatsworth Poetry Project was fully funded and administered by Kemera herself. She wanted to make sure that young writers felt empowered and inspired to become writers. She didn’t stop at just publishing Durban’s young wordsmiths, either. She also handed out cash prizes to the top three poems in each grade at each school!
“It was not a competition, but I did want to award excellence,” she explained.
Every participating child also walked away with their very own complimentary copy of the printed anthology. Holding a book and knowing your poem is inside it can spark big dreams.
“From Chatsworth’s schoolyards, corridors and homes, these poems carry laughter, longing, loss, love, hope and everything in between,” continued Moodly. “These poems reminded me that Belonging isn’t just a place, it is the courage to speak, the power to listen and the will to build. I was impressed that the title resonated so much with the learners, and that they took time and care to write such extraordinary pieces. It gave me immense joy to be providing a platform for the young writers to be able to express themselves.”
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The young poets will be encouraged to get involved in World Poetry Day on March 21, a day proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry around the world, and to honour poets and their craft.
Interestingly, Durban holds the proud title of a formal UNESCO City of Literature – which makes this new anthology even more meaningful and important!
Kemera Moodly knows firsthand just how important it is for young people to find their voice. Poetry has been a love of hers since she was a child. She has published six anthologies of her own work, starting with Words from my Heart in 2013, and most recently Paper Heart last year. So when she created a space for these young poets to be heard, she did it with real understanding.
Belonging is available in the libraries of all four participating schools, and can also be purchased directly from Kemera or from the schools themselves. Moodly’s own books can be purchased online here.
There’s one more lovely detail – profits from Kemera’s books and merchandise are donated to the Denis Hurley Centre that serves the Emmanual Cathedral community in Durban.
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