The Young Writer’s Committee Explained
The Young Writers Committee will ensure active youth participation in PEN’s current decision-making structures into the future. It will mobilize us all in the spirit of historic initiatives like the Tomorrow Club and Young PEN, fostering collaboration for young voices worldwide.
The committee will focus on supporting writers under 35, while also making space for emerging voices of older members, particularly all those who would join the committee to mentor and support young writers. If a center does not currently have a member under 35, it should create the possibility to attract them but, in every case, all colleagues are welcome.
PEN International will seek support from centers at the upcoming congress by vote. Discussions in the committee will collectively determine the best ways to support each other, improve the inner structure of PEN to ensure better representation of youth. While also highlighting pressing themes and creating networking opportunities and solidarity actions. The executive committee and chair will be elected at the first formal gathering with committee members, due to be organized sometime after the congress vote.
Tomorrow Club Project Explained
When PEN International began to share the idea of establishing a young writers initiative in 2021 at the centenary, it was important to have a reference to the Tomorrow Club that had been the predecessor of our organisation from 1917 to 1921. Many PEN centres, in the beginning of our second century, promoted this idea and signed a statement at our congress in Uppsala make it real with the direction of young members. PEN Norway started The Tomorrow Club project to advance this work that’s supported by PEN International and will be open to collaborate with all centers.
The aim is to spotlight and amplify young voices under 35 within and beyond the PEN network; to establish an active, diverse and supportive community across borders.
If you want to be involved or learn more, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/zsbtWBkC2s3MigGi8