Pongo Poetry Project

 “[Pongo] helped shape my life. Poetry has been a key factor in my life, and helped me grasp the big picture; what I needed to do differently to stay alive and healthy. I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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The U.S. is in the midst of a youth mental health crisis. Young people need our support. Pongo offers just that, through the power of poetry. 

WHAT WE DO

Poetry is at the heart of Pongo's work. We facilitate healing poetry writing workshops for youth in detention centers, residential psychiatric hospitals, and similar confined settings. We publish youth poetry, giving their voices, perspectives, and pain a platform. And through training and technical support, we foster the creation of therapeutic poetry programs; bringing the transformative power of poetry writing to youth worldwide.

WHY IT MATTERS

Pongo poetry writing unlocks healing. 

Pongo programming is proven to offer significant therapeutic benefits for youth. Time and again young people tell us about the relief, creative joy, and growth they experience through poetry writing. Youth find joy in their accomplishments, pride in their authorship, and continue to write after Pongo. 

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT

Every donation to Pongo will fuel our impact on youth; those cut off from their communities, coping with trauma, and in need of an outlet for their pain and turmoil.

With your support, this year Pongo will: 

→ Provide healing poetry programming every week to 150+ systems-impacted youth in the Seattle area

→ Partner with a new Seattle area program site to offer weekly healing poetry programming  

→ Foster the creation of five new healing poetry programs worldwide 

With your support, Pongo will continue to share the transformative power of poetry writing with systems-impacted youth, inspiring self-discovery, insight, and healing from the trauma they’ve endured.            

Join Pongo in creating a world where every verse echoes with understanding and every heart can find healing.