Youth Publishing & Collaborative Writing Programs

Purpose:
To advance education and relieve conditions associated with mental health by delivering literacy-based programming that supports the development of writing, publishing, and communication skills among girls and female-identifying youth.

Description:
WriteHER offers structured literary mentorship through two annual tracks:

1. Collaborative Anthology Program – An 18-week program for 12–25 youth (ages 12–20) focused on co-authoring a professionally published book. Participants engage in biweekly, guided workshops to build skills in storytelling, editing, and publishing.

2. Solo Book Projects – Up to 5 youth annually receive mentorship and editorial support to publish independent works such as poetry, short fiction, or illustrated children’s books.

Workshops incorporate evidence-based strategies to support literacy, self-expression, and mental wellness. The final deliverable is a professionally published book used as a tool for community education and personal development.

We aim to increase self-esteem, media literacy, and communication skills in participants while reducing isolation, internalized shame, and emotional distress. By becoming published authors, participants not only reclaim their voices but also build a sense of comradery, achievement, and purpose.

Program Details: Participants will meet bi-weekly for 2-hour group workshops led by trained facilitators including writing coaches, mental health-informed mentors, and lived-experience speakers. Each session will include:

• Guided writing exercises focused on lived experiences and emotional processing

• Peer sharing circles with facilitated emotional safety guidelines

• Structured mentorship and editorial support

• A final publishing week, where stories are submitted to our publishing house (fEMPOWER Publications Inc) for professional editing, formatting, design, and production into a collective book

A published anthology will be distributed to all participants and their communities, used as both a confidence-building milestone and a community education tool.

Beneficiaries & Selection Process: Participants will be selected through a short application form focused on interest and need, with outreach prioritized through schools (guidance counselors), community youth-serving groups, and specialized mental health organizations (disordered eating, trauma recovery). The program is free for participants and supported by donor funding. We will offer at least two cohorts per year, each serving 12–25 youth.

Projected Expenditures/Annual Budget: $22,000–$27,000/year

1 anthology annually (18-week program), approximately $500 CAD per author; 2–5 solo books per year (avg. 6–8 months), $4,000–$6,000 per book.

$10,000 per cohort (includes venue rental, facilitator honorariums, printed books, snacks, materials, and transportation support)

Breakdown p/project:

• Facilitator fees: $3,000

• Publishing and design costs: $2,000

• Program materials and participant print kits: $2,000

• Venue rental and tech: $1,500

• Transportation and food: $1,500

Financials/Legalities: No fees charged.

All content and publishing contracts are overseen by the Foundation. 

Youth sign release/consent forms.

Involvement of Employees and Volunteers:

• 1 Program Manager (paid staff) to oversee operations and logistics

• 3–5 volunteers per cohort including mentors, facilitators, editors and guest speakers

• All volunteers will undergo trauma-informed facilitation training and criminal record checks

Partnerships or Intermediaries:

• Local school boards, specific mental health organizations (eating disorders, abuse recovery), and youth centers will assist with outreach and referrals

• Publishing support provided through our social enterprise fEMPOWER Publications Inc. (which operates at arm’s length and will not generate private benefit)

Delivery Method: Primarily virtual/hybrid (Greater Toronto Area, Toronto, and virtual) with projected growth provincial chapters. 

Start Date: September 15, 2025