Every spring, something extraordinary happens. Students from across the country—and sometimes across the world—send us their haiku. Some are written by first-time poets, some by heritage speakers finding confidence in their language, and others by students who have never before shared their writing publicly. Yet when the poems arrive, one thing becomes clear: haiku gives young people a voice. This contest matters because it turns a quiet moment of observation into a celebration of creativity and cultural connection. In twenty years, we have seen how one poem can change a student’s sense of self. We have seen teachers build community through shared writing. We have seen families gather with pride at the awards ceremony, listening to young poets read words they crafted with care.

The Student Haiku Contest is organized by Movement for Language and Culture, with support from the United Nations International School (UNIS) and global language and cultural education communities. Each language category is judged by its own haiku expert. Submissions for the 2025 Haiku Contest came from students and teachers representing a wide range of schools and programs across the United States and around the world. Participants hailed from seven U.S. states—New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, and Missouri—as well as from Canada, Slovenia, Japan, and Kenya. The English Division received entries from 11 different schools and programs, while the Japanese Division had submissions from 16. The French Division included entries from 5 schools, and the German, Italian, and Spanish Divisions were represented by the United Nations International School. In recent years, the contest has also welcomed entries from Tajikistan, Turkey, and Indonesia—a beautiful reminder that haiku knows no borders and can be expressed in any language.

We want—more than anything—to continue this tradition. But to do so, we need supporters who believe in the value of creativity, language education, and cultural exchange. Your support helps us: keep the contest free for all students and teachers, publish a digital booklet that students treasure for years, provide travel grants for judges, special guests, and students, host meaningful ceremonies that bring communities together, and create new opportunities for intercultural dialogue. When you give, you’re not just supporting a contest. You’re giving a young writer the confidence to say, “My words matter.” You’re helping a teacher spark creativity in the classroom. You’re sustaining a program that connects people across cultures, languages, and generations. We hope you will join us. Your involvement—whether through a donation, corporate sponsorship, or community partnership—helps ensure the Haiku Contest continues to thrive for the next twenty years and beyond. Together, we can nurture the next generation of poets. Together, we can keep this beautiful tradition alive.