Expression through Poetry Initiative

Expression Through Poetry is a creative empowerment initiative founded by Oghenovo Ebireri (Floreb the Poet) and is dedicated to equipping schoolchildren in slums with the tools to find and use their voices through the art of poetry. By fostering self-expression, confidence, and critical thinking, this program nurtures the creative potential of young minds, turning silence into verse and stories into strength—one poem at a time.

Expression Through Poetry is a creative empowerment initiative dedicated to equipping rural schoolchildren with the tools to find and use their voices through the art of poetry. By fostering self-expression, confidence, and critical thinking, this program

Expression Through Poetry Initiative is a community-based educational outreach program designed to enhance creative literacy and self-expression among children in slum schools. The initiative leverages the medium of poetry—both written and spoken—as a powerful tool for personal development, communication skills, and emotional well-being.
Rooted in the belief that every child deserves a voice, the program provides structured workshops, mentorship sessions, and performance opportunities that foster creativity, build confidence, and promote critical thinking. Participants are encouraged to explore language, identity, and storytelling in a supportive environment, equipping them with lifelong skills that extend beyond the classroom.
The initiative aims not only to improve literacy and academic engagement, but also to cultivate a sense of agency and empowerment among young learners in under-resourced communities. By integrating artistic expression into education, Expression Through Poetry Initiative contributes to holistic learning, cultural preservation, and the amplification of marginalized voices.
This project seeks strategic partnerships to expand its reach, strengthen its impact, and ensure that creativity and expression are not privileges, but fundamental rights accessible to every child—regardless of geography or circumstance.NB: Expression through Poetry Initiative is NOT opened to donations

The Mission:

Empowering school children in slums through poetry, fostering creative expression in day-to-day lives, culture, and nurturing confident voices for a brighter future.

The Story:

🌱 The Story Behind Expression Through Poetry Initiative, It all started with a single poem."In a quiet rural classroom, tucked away from the noise of the world, a young child stood in front of her classmates—shy, unsure, and barely audible. But in her hands was a sheet of paper with her poem, written in shaky handwriting. She began to read. With every line, her voice grew steadier. The room grew quieter. Her words, simple and raw, carried the weight of her dreams, fears, and the world she wished to see.
That moment planted a seed.
The idea for Expression Through Poetry Initiative came from witnessing the profound power of words to transform silence into strength. It wasn’t about making children into poets—it was about giving them the tools to speak, to feel, and to be heard. In many of these slum communities, creative expression isn’t often nurtured, yet it’s desperately needed.
As a poet and storyteller, I knew poetry could be more than art—it could be healing, a mirror, a microphone. So I began visiting rural schools, teaching kids not just how to write, but how to express. Slowly, something beautiful started to bloom: children who once sat silently began performing verses with passion, confidence, and pride" ~Floreb the Poet.Expression Through Poetry Initiative was born from a belief that every child, no matter where they come from, has a story worth telling—and the right to tell it.

Programs and Services of Expression through Poetry Initiative

🎓 Poetry Workshops for Rural Schools
This flagship program brings engaging, interactive poetry sessions directly to rural classrooms. It teaches children the basics of poetry, encourage self-expression, and guide them in writing and performing their own work.🗣️ Spoken Word & Performance Coaching
The initiative helps young voices find their rhythm and stage presence. Through performance coaching, kids learn to speak with confidence, emotion, and clarity—empowering them to share their stories out loud.

Community Engagement

This is the various ways the initiative interacts with, involves, and supports the local communities—especially in slums. Since this initiative focuses on teaching kids in rural schools how to express themselves through poetry, here are some examples and aspects of its community engagement:🌿 1. School Partnerships:
The initiative collaborates directly with rural schools to run poetry workshops.✨The initiative builds trust and rapport with school staff, ensuring long-term impact.👧🏾👦🏽 2. The initiative helps children develop confidence and communication skills through self-expression and encourage students to share their experiences, dreams, and struggles through poetry.🫱🏽🫲🏿 3. Local Involvement
The initiative engages local volunteers, teachers, and parents in workshops and poetry readings.✨The initiative sometimes incorporates regional languages or cultural themes, making it more relatable.

Impact and Outcomes

✍️ 1. Improved Self-Expression
- Children gain the confidence to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through poetry.
- Students begin to articulate ideas they previously struggled to communicate.📈 2. Boosted Literacy and Language Skills
- Regular writing and reading poetry enhances vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.
- Kids develop a love for reading and creative writing.🧠 3. Enhanced Emotional Well-being
- Poetry becomes a safe outlet for emotions—helping students process feelings like joy, fear, loss, and hope.
- Teachers report better emotional awareness and behavior among participants.🎤 4. Increased Confidence and Public Speaking
- Students who once hesitated to speak now perform their poems aloud with pride.
- Public showcases and classroom readings help them build self-esteem.🌍 5. Community Upliftment
- Poetry performances and published anthologies bring communities together.
- Parents and teachers often feel inspired seeing their children grow creatively.🪴 6. Long-Term Educational Motivation
- Some students, inspired by the program, express a stronger interest in academics or future creative careers.
- The initiative fosters a culture where learning and expression are celebrated.

Future Plans:

1. Distributing literature works for free with adequate financing.
As part of the future vision, this initiative plans to distribute literature—poetry collections, storybooks, and inspiring works—completely free of charge. With adequate funding, it aims to ensure that every child reached has access to books that nurture imagination, language, and self-expression.NB: Expression through Poetry Initiative is funded by Oghenovo Ebireri (Floreb the Poet) and it is NOT opened to donations.2. Expand to More Schools in slums
- Reach more children by partnering with additional schools in slums across different regions.
- Ensure that even the most remote communities have access to creative expression.3. Train More Facilitators
- Develop a training program for local teachers and volunteers to lead poetry sessions.
- Create a network of trained facilitators who can sustain the initiative independently.4. Publish Student Poetry Anthologies
- Compile and publish collections of students’ poems annually.
- Distribute these books to schools, libraries, and community centers as a source of pride and inspiration.5. Organize Poetry Festivals and Showcases
- Host regional poetry events where students can perform and connect with peers from other schools.
- Involve families and community members to strengthen local engagement.6. Create a Digital Platform
- Launch an online space to showcase student poems, share workshop resources, and connect supporters.
- Allow voices in slums to reach a global audience.7. Incorporate Visual and Performing Arts
- Introduce mixed-media expression, combining poetry with art, music, or drama to deepen creativity.
- Help students discover new talents and forms of expression.8. Measure Long-term Impact
- Develop tools to track how poetry influences students’ literacy, emotional health, and confidence over time.
- Use this data to continually improve and grow the program.

The Founder:

The Brain Behind the Initiative: Floreb the PoetAt the heart of the Expression through Poetry Initiative is Oghenovo Ebireri popularly known as Floreb the Poet—a passionate writer, spoken word poetry artiste, and advocate for empowerment through the arts. Floreb believes in the transformative power of words and is driven by a deep commitment to giving children in slums the tools to express their unique voices. He founded this initiative 23rd April, 2019.✨ Key Milestones of Floreb the Poet:🎤 Performance & Public Speaking
- Performed spoken word poetry at schools, art festivals, and advocacy events including the Seventh Annual Benin city Chorale, The Society of Civil Rights and order, 'The African story' organized by The Department of mass communication- University of Benin, Josh2funny campus tour held at Ambrose Ali University- He uses poetry as a bridge to connect with youths and raise awareness on education, identity, and resilience.🌱 Founding the Expression through Poetry Initiative
- He established the initiative to bring poetry workshops to underserved schools in slums, blending creativity with education.- He personally facilitated sessions that helped students unlock their inner voices.📚 Educational & Mentorship Impact
- He mentored students and teachers in creative writing and self-expression.- He developed poetry modules and activities tailored for children with limited access to literary resources.📈 Community Engagement & Vision
- He mobilized community support, building partnerships with schools and local leaders.- He continues to expand the initiative with a vision of nationwide reach, backed by literature access, events, and mentorship.