GREAT BAY--The Men’s Mental Health Awareness Foundation (MMHAF) is inviting schools across St. Maarten to register boys in Grades 5 and 6 for the 5th Annual Interscholastic Spoken Word Competition, scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Philipsburg Cultural Center.
The competition, which begins at 7:00pm sharp, will provide participating boys with a platform to use spoken word to express their thoughts and experiences surrounding mental health, emotions, life experiences and issues affecting young people.
Now in its fifth year, the competition forms part of MMHAF’s ongoing effort to create spaces where boys can speak openly, develop confidence and recognize that expressing emotions should not be regarded as a weakness.
The foundation said the event is designed to combine creativity with an important conversation about the emotional wellbeing of boys, while giving students an opportunity to develop their public speaking and self-expression skills in front of a live audience.
Participants will compete in two rounds, with performances evaluated based on creativity, originality, freedom of expression, delivery and connection with the audience. Prizes will be awarded during the competition.
MMHAF believes that encouraging boys to speak openly at an early age can help change attitudes surrounding men and emotional expression.
“When we give young boys a safe platform to express themselves, we help create a generation that understands that having emotions and speaking about them is a strength, not a weakness,” the foundation said.
Schools are therefore being encouraged to identify and register interested Grade 5 and Grade 6 boys early, giving students sufficient time to prepare for the competition and the opportunity to take the stage, find their voices and inspire their peers.
The foundation said the spoken word format provides young participants with considerable freedom in determining how they communicate their message, while encouraging them to think about subjects that are sometimes difficult for boys to discuss openly.
Registration is currently open. Schools wishing to participate can visit the Men’s Mental Health Awareness Foundation Facebook page, where the registration link is available.
The 5th Annual Interscholastic Spoken Word Competition will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Philipsburg Cultural Center, beginning at 7:00pm sharp.
Great Words. Big Stage. Brighter Futures.
