National Poetry Day - Creative Eden Girls' School pupil becomes Coventry's first Young Poet Laureate - The Coventry Observer

National Poetry Day - Creative Eden Girls' School pupil becomes Coventry's first Young Poet Laureate

Coventry Editorial 7th Oct, 2021   0

A CREATIVE pupil from Eden Girls’ School has been named as Coventry’s first ever Young Poet Laureate.

Hawwa Hussain was awarded the prestigious title after being encouraged by her English teacher to submit two poems to the Coventry City of Culture 2021 Young Poet Laureate competition.

Competition organisers were looking for young people with an enthusiasm for both their own and other people’s poetry and someone who could write for a broad range of readers and listeners.

Hawwa, 15, was invited to a special ceremony at The Belgrade Theatre where her title as Young Poet Laureate was announced and she and was later presented with a certificate by the Lord Mayor of Coventry.




The year 11 student will now have the post for two years, writing poems to commemorate significant moments, giving performances of her work and encouraging an interest in poetry across the city.

She said: “I was so surprised to hear the news – it was such an incredible feeling.


“I can’t wait to get started in my role and to use my writing skills to capture all the wonderful events and activities taking place in Coventry.”

She said she enjoyed writing and praised her English teacher Stephanie Hamman

“Her classes are amazing and her teaching is very inspiring.”

Miss Hamman said: “Hawwa has grown into a confident, bright and articulate young woman and we are so very proud of her.

“This latest achievement demonstrates her exceptional talent for writing and her enthusiasm for poetry is second to none.”

Shazia Hussain, Hawwa’s mum, said her daughter absolutely loved school and had a wonderful set of teachers which made learning enjoyable every single day.

“She is simply thriving.

“Hawwa has always enjoyed writing, so for this to have been identified by her English teacher and for her to have received encouragement to really stretch her skills is truly wonderful.”

Today (Thursday) is National Poetry Day.

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