A youth charity that promotes arts and culture is raising funds to send a team to an international competition in the US later this year.

The Chewstick Foundation, through its Break The Chains Teen Poetry and Spoken Word Club, has been encouraging teens to develop public speaking, community consciousness, collaboration and literacy skills while speaking up about the things that matter to them most and helps them to know that they are not alone.

Participants have been attending bimonthly summits to enhance their poetry performing skills, and have also formed in-school poetry clubs, in preparation for the 17th Annual Brave New Voices Poetry and Spoken Word Competition taking place in Philadelphia.

The charity will be holding a tag day with a difference in Hamilton today, when students will be on hand to recite poetry at various locations throughout the city.

And tomorrow evening the performers will put on a poetry showcase at the Chewstick Lounge at the corner of Elliot Street and Court Street. The event is free but the organisation encourages donations.

A spokesman for the group said: “Break The Chains Teen Poetry and Spoken Word Club is targeting to raise $5,000 to enable them the opportunity to connect with a global community of young poets, strengthen their voices, foster connections and to express and understand each other in an environment of respect, freedom, love, and truth.

“The participants and facilitators have been working feverishly to reach Philadelphia, having conducted workshops and performances with proceeds dedicated to the programme, completing pledge sheets, taking part in community performances, producing events and now planning a week of entertainment for the enjoyment and upliftment of their community.”

Donations can be made online at www.ptix.bm or by contacting the Chewstick Foundation on 292 2439 or e-mail info@chewstick.org.