Sydney Story Factory
When we began this blogfest we said we wanted to hear stories. This May post is about a story. It is also about how a story draws out many more stories from a lot of people.
Little people.
Strugglers.
Battlers.
It is about unlocking the stories they have within.
For the We Are the World Blogfest post this month I would like to feature the Sydney Story Factory. When you go to the link be sure to check out the youtube clip.
In the meantime, here’s a bit from their website:
At the Sydney Story Factory we believe that all Australian young people, no matter their background, should be given opportunities to develop the communication skills and flexibility of thinking that will allow them to live their lives to their full potential and flourish in a rapidly changing world.
Our priority is marginalised young people – those most at risk of losing confidence in their writing and switching off at school. We light the spark of creativity and help them find their voice.
Programs are for young people aged 7 to 17, in primary and high school, and are designed by creative writing and literacy experts to:
- improve young people’s written and oral communication skills;
- enhance self-confidence and self-efficacy;
- nurture creativity and empathy; and
- deepen engagement with learning.
All of our lives are story factories. The Sydney Story Factory is a very special one. I wish we had a story factory in the towns I lived in as a child.
We all love to hear stories
To hear them all the time;
About the drearies and the glories,
The downtime and the prime.
I love to hear a tale,
And see others give their spiel;
Even if their voice is frail,
I know we’ll get the feel.
A feel for what is rising,
of creativity deep within;
Whether great or small by sizing,
We welcome stories in!
A larger story goes on….
The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by co-hosts. This month’s co-hosts are Peter Nena, Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal , Roshan Radhakrishnan , Emerald Barnes and Lynn Hallbrooks
Please SIGN UP for WE ARE THE WORLD BLOGFEST in the linky list below:
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~~~GUIDELINES~~~
- Keep your post to below 500 words, as much as possible.
- All we ask is you link to a human news story on your blog on the last Friday of each month, one that shows love, humanity, and brotherhood. Something like this news, about a man who only fosters terminally ill children.
- Join us on the last Friday of each month in sharing news that warms the cockles of our heart. No story is too big or small, as long as it goes beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
- Place the WE ARE THE WORLD Badge on your sidebar, and help us spread the word on social media. Tweets, Facebook shares, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. More Blogfest signups mean more friends, love and light for all of us.
- We’ll read and comment on each others’ posts, get to know each other better, and hopefully, make or renew some friendships with everyone who signs on as participants in the coming months.
- To signup, add your link in WE ARE THE WORLD Linky List here.
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Can you help us on a team of Co-hosts? Contact Damyanti on atozstories at gmail dot com.
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Simon's still stanza 
Kids are going to change the world. They need all the confidence they can get!😍
You’ll get no argument from me there, Pam. It is so good for them and getting people to write stories is just so good anyhow.
Wow! I agree with you – I wish I had a story factory when I was a child too. Love the poem you added at the end. Thanks for sharing this and for being a #WATWB member.
Thank you, Lynn. Let’s hope these story factories catch on and spread further afield. 🙂
How are you, Simon? I have watched the Sydney Story Factory and I love it. It is inspiring. Young people need more of such factories. Thank you for participating in the #WATWB.
Am well thanks, Peter. I really love the Sydney Story Factory and, as you would have seen, it earned Cath Keenan an Australian of the Year Award. Thanks for helping to cohost this month. I really think that #WATWB has something to offer.
What a fabulous inspiring story – this lights up my heart.
As it has done for any other too, Deborah. Isn’t a story factory just a fabulous thing. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Fantastic story! Helping kids find their voice is life changing! Thanks so much for sharing! #WATWB
Belinda Witzenhausen~Writer, Creativity Coach & Artist
Yes, Belinda. I do believe it can be life changing. You are doing so too in your work. Thanks also for all you have done for this blogfest that is so dear to us.
No, Thank YOU! 🙂
Communication skills in general are such an important part of life and as soon as they’re gone it’s almost impossible to get them back. Cheers to anyone helping kids learn to believe in themselves and communicate!
Yes, Eric. That’s why I like the Story Factory so much. Thanks for commenting.
That’s a really important Story Factory, Simon. Thanks for sharing.
Stories – the lifeblood of us all, maybe especially for the marginalised.. Good on Sydney for getting this going and that young people know they have a safe space in which their stories can be heard! Thanks Simon!
I thoroughly agree with you, Susan. Many thanks!
Love this post! Kids need to find their voice! Amazing post!
Thanks Sylvia. Isn’t a story factory just a fabulous thing?
Yes it is and you are welcome Simon.
What a great program for kids! Thanks for sharing this Simon.
Thanks for reading, Emily
Hi Simon – I knew I needed more time to visit you here and am so glad I did. I love what Catherine has done – incredible woman and she’s obviously helping many, as well as giving volunteers an opportunity to help out too – the comment by Benjamin Law “that it’s not just teachers and parents who educate and encourage the/ir children… but the community can do so much too” … loved reading this – thanks so much – cheers Hilary
This is such a cool idea! I hope more people adopt it – and extend it for older people. I am sure there would be many takers. Thanks for sharing
This is such a noble effort. I have some inkling of the effort that goes into it because I’ve volunteered for children who were from underprivileged backgrounds here in India. A lot of them feel inadequate at schools because they don’t have the same support at home owing to their poverty or other issues at home. A lot if them are actually very bright but aren’t able to channel it correctly or aren’t encouraged the right way. So efforts like these are a great way of bringing out their talent. Great post!
Yes. We love our Sydney story factory.
😀😀😀
I was too unwell to read posts last month, Simon– so am making up for it during this WATWB. This is such a wonderful idea—sharing, kindness, love.
Damyanti, Stories are wonderful and helping children develop stories is especially so. Glad you are feeling better 🙂