“Writing plays a crucial role in the lives of youth by providing them with a powerful tool for self-expression, confidence-building, and connection.”
– Danielle, WCC Facilitator
August 12 marked International Youth Day. This special day invites our attention to the shining global community of young people, their dreams and futures, and the challenges of their times.
Since 2018, Writers Collective of Canada (WCC) has collaborated with several partner organizations to deliver on-site and virtual community writing workshops for youth and young adults.
For this month’s Spotlight, we are pleased to to introduce WCC facilitators Danielle Nevado and Alya Harvey at REST Centres, and Ki Weinstock at L’Annexe.
DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY AS A WCC FACILITATOR – HOW DID YOU FIND US, AND WHEN DID YOU BECOME A FACILITATOR?
DANIELLE: I first heard about WCC from a former colleague while we were working on a storytelling program called My Story, My Power. This program was all about helping people find their voices and share their personal stories.
As we collaborated, we quickly realized how perfectly WCC’s mission aligned with our own goals. WCC focuses on creating space for writers of all backgrounds, which really resonated with us.
Their dedication to inclusivity and empowerment mirrored what we wanted to achieve with My Story, My Power. Motivated by this synergy, we decided to apply to be facilitators.
Within three days of completing the training, we proudly became part of the WCC facilitator team. It felt like a natural extension of our work with My Story, My Power, and we were excited to bring the benefits of the WCC’s resources and community to our program participants. As facilitators, we gained access to a wealth of support and opportunities, from workshops and mentorship programs to networking events.
ALYA: I found out about the WCC program through my former colleague and co-facilitator for a storytelling program, which we ran together alongside my other colleague, called My Story My Power. I became a facilitator with the WCC as of March 2024 when I completed a 3-day training session, which was very informative and resourceful.
KI: I discovered WCC through their workshops at L’Annexe. After participating in a few workshops, I knew I wanted to facilitate some myself! I completed my training in June 2023.
WHAT BRINGS YOU TO VOLUNTEERING? AND HOW DOES FACILITATING YOUTH WORKSHOPS ALIGN WITH YOUR OBJECTIVES AND ASPIRATIONS AS A VOLUNTEER?
KI: I wanted to combine my love for writing with my desire to help others for just the sake of helping others.
Facilitating WCC workshops, especially for young adults, allows me to give them a fun, creative activity that I wanted more of at their age. Italso gets me to write more, so it’s a win-win!
ALYA: I enjoy volunteering because I am contributing to society and giving back to the community. Generally, volunteering holds an overall special place in my heart.
When I was younger, I spoke about wanting to work in the field of community services, and started volunteering from high school to post-secondary. Now, I am working in the field I hoped for.
Facilitating writing workshops for youth aligns with my objectives, because we are motivating young people to express themselves through different lenses, to step out of their comfort zone, and to boost their confidence and self-esteem.
DANIELLE: My passion for volunteering with WCC stems from my desire to help people discover and express their artistic side through writing. I want to create a space where individuals can share their stories without fear of judgement. WCC’s mission aligns perfectly with this goal, making it a natural fit for my volunteer work.
Facilitating youth workshops is especially fulfilling for me. It allows me to support young adults as they grow and develop their writing skills, helping them gain confidence and find their voices. These workshops not only aid in their personal growth, but also enable me to develop new personal skills and connect more deeply with the community.
Volunteering with WCC also promotes lifelong learning and inspires future leaders. Seeing the positive impact firsthand and watching young people thrive is incredibly rewarding.
It’s gratifying to know that I’m contributing to their journey and making a meaningful difference in their lives. Overall, my involvement with WCC is a wonderful way to support artistic expression, foster community engagement, and inspire the next generation.
WHERE DOES WRITING FIT IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH? WHAT DO YOU EXPERIENCE IN A WCC WORKSHOP, WHEN A YOUNG PERSON WRITES IN COMMUNITY?
ALYA: Writing fits in the daily life young people, and in the challenges they face, writing gives them a platform to express and connect to the impact of what they went through. In a WCC workshop, I witness youth who are pushing themselves to speak up in spite of fear, and their confidence growing when they voice their lived experiences. I experience youth coming out of their shells.
KI: I feel it’s important for young people to write so they can find the words they need to process, remember, and convey their thoughts. Life can be difficult, even more so as one grows, so finding those words will hopefully help them work through those difficulties.
Young people write for so many reasons: to self-reflect, to be listened to, to explore creative ideas and uses of language, or to simply enjoy themselves.
It’s easy to miss out on fun as we age, as we’re overwhelmed with obligations, and – due to schoolwork and emails – we write out of necessity, rather than recreationally. Writing in WCC workshops can be a small joy in an otherwise joyless day.
DANIELLE: Writing plays a crucial role in the lives of youth by providing them with a powerful tool for self-expression, confidence-building, and connection. In a WCC workshop, young people are given a unique opportunity to explore and develop their voice in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Through these workshops, participants experience a strong sense of community. They are surrounded by peers who share similar interests and passions, creating a space where they can freely express their thoughts and emotions. This sense of belonging is vital for their personal growth and helps them build confidence in their abilities.
WHAT IMPACT HAVE YOU WITNESSED, THROUGH FACILITATING BRAVER SPACES FOR YOUTH TO DISCOVER AND EXPRESS THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES?
DANIELLE: I’ve seen firsthand the healing impact of creating a braver space for young writers. It allows them to release emotions, gain self-awareness, and build confidence. In these spaces, they find a supportive environment where their voices are valued, which helps them explore and articulate their inner experiences.
Sharing their stories fosters deep connections and a strong sense of belonging. This process not only helps them develop resilience but also empowers them to discover and express their authentic selves.
ALYA: I have witnessed some of the young people I work with discover their voices and then become more vocal. They’re very expressive with their thoughts and emotions. I have also seen youth build social connections with each other through the program, sharing in similar lived experiences. These connections help strengthen their confidence.
“Voice of Freedom,” an event hosted by the My Story, My Power program, allowed youth participants to take up space and share their experiences, their backgrounds, what they went through. They also expressed the importance of empowering their own voices, and educating others.
KI: There have absolutely been moments of catharsis for both myself and fellow participants while writing, sharing, and receiving positive feedback.
Finding happiness – whether through an activity detached from one’s personal struggles, or through tackling those struggles – is an important step towards healing, and WCC provides a platform where people can and do take that first step free of charge.
WHY DO YOU WRITE? TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO WRITING!
ALYA: I write because it is a form of self-care and gives me a soothing feeling. I write because I step out of my comfort zone and away from the world to look deeply and reflect. Writing takes away a burden that I had on my shoulders, and I am free to express all my feelings through writing in different creative ways.
KI: My active imagination, and a passion for reading, drew me into writing at a young age. Its accessibility as a creative medium (if you can put words together, congrats, you’re a writer!) made it my main tool for self-expression ever since.
It connects me with myself, my peers, and even the people who came before us. Humanity succeeded as a species by learning to describe things for themselves and others to understand and build upon. So I’m doing exactly what I evolved to do: writing what I need to hear, knowing that if I need it, others might, too.
DANIELLE:Writing is more than just a hobby for me; it’s a deeply personal way to connect with myself and others on a deeper level. Through writing, I can explore thoughts and ideas that might otherwise stay bottled up. It’s a way for me to look inward and process my experiences, especially the difficult ones.
Reflecting on past traumas through writing has been incredibly therapeutic. It allows me to face my emotions and memories in a safe and controlled way, helping me heal and grow. Writing turns my pain into something I can handle, making sense out of chaos.
It also helps me communicate what’s important to me. Writing allows me to share my thoughts and stories with others, creating connections that might not be possible through talking alone. It’s a bridge to deeper understanding and empathy, both for myself and for those who read my words.
Ultimately, writing brings me joy and fulfilment. It’s a creative outlet that lets me express my imagination, play with language, and create something meaningful. Whether I’m crafting a story, writing a poem, or just jotting down my daily thoughts in a journal, writing is an essential part of my life.
Writing helps me make sense of the world and find meaning in it. It lets me see the bigger picture, understand my journey, and engage more fully with life. It’s a fundamental part of who I am, shaping my identity and guiding my growth. Through writing, I can embrace the complexity of my experiences, finding clarity and purpose in the midst of it all.
Thank you Danielle, Alya, and Ki for your inspiring work as WCC facilitators. We are proud of the ways in which you create brave spaces for young writers to discover and express their authentic voices.