A SAFE SPACE TO CREATE
The
Writers’ Exchange o ffers free, fun literacy programs for under-resourced kids
and youth in Vancouver
By Rebecca Bollwitt
O
n a rainy weekday afternoon on East Hastings, with neon signs reflecting in puddles, a walking school bus of children comes bounding up the steps at number 877 and into the Vancouver Writers’ Exchange.
The first order of business? Snacks.
“My favourite snack is yogurt, and Goldfish,” says one of the kids from the Grades 3-4 cohort.
Another arrives at the table cluster with a heap of both on their plate. The space is laid out like a classroom, with bookshelves and ’zine racks, reading nooks, art supplies and board games — all designed to foster creative expression and comfort.
The Writers’ Exchange after-school program has three streams: snacks, homework or reading time, and project time. It was founded in 2012 by Sarah Maitland and Jennifer MacLeod, evolving from the KidSafe Writers’ Room program
Maitland ran at Queen Alexandra Elementary in 2011.
The Writers’ Exchange offers free, fun literacy programs for under-resourced kids and youth in Vancouver, providing a safe environment and fostering creative expression.
Each year, more than 350 kids complete creative literacy projects through the After School, In School, or Summer programs, and receive individualized attention from literacy volunteers to boost their reading, writing and self-confidence. Programs are offered for kids and youth from ages six to 18 (different ages in different programs) at 877 E. Hastings St. and The Writers’ Room at Queen Alexandra Elementary. The exchange works with kids from Grandview ¿uuqinak'uuh Elementary, Thunderbird Elementary, Vancouver Technical Secondary and χpey Elementary School.
Once Goldfish are cleared from plates, the games come out. In the middle of each table cluster is a bin containing felt pens and pencil crayons, conduits for using the paper table cloths as canvas for creative output for everything from hand prints to poetry.
“Regardless of the activity, the important thing is that they’re here, they’re engaged in some capacity, they have fun, they have access to healthy snacks, and they’re safe,” says Matt Layzell, volunteer and community coordinator with the Writers’ Exchange.
“Obviously the secondary focus is helping them with their reading and writing. To that end, all of the volunteers meet them where they’re at, if they want to read in silence, that’s OK Layzell says. “If they want you to read to them, that’s OK. Sometimes the kids want to read to you and show off the fact that they’ve learned how to pronounce a certain word. It’s inspiring to see the progression of involvement and engagement the kids have in the program.”
The room is a hive of activity, and at the same time quiet contemplation, with the kids either fuelled by the nutrition of the afterschool snack, or the comfort and freedom to be themselves — most likely both.
The black chalkboard on the wall by the snack table displays a writing prompt: “If you could haunt one building, which would it be?”
The A&W drive-through and a staff member’s house were the top answers.
“What I love most is that I like finding ways that are really fun to unleash the kids’ creativity and bring out the artist in them, and making writing fun for them,” says Doaa Magdy, who is on the program team. “Being neurodivergent, when I was growing up I never really found writing really accessible, so I like to find ways like maybe they can create their own story, or create their own universe.”
Three friends dig through the red, noun cards and green adjective cards that come with a board game, enlisting a volunteer to assist with some pronunciations and definitions. Four copies of the same book are brought to a table and kids read along out loud, in unison. A duo sits in a cozy corner, quietly reading for the entire afternoon session.
It’s an expression of creativity, an outlet, and the students can share whatever is it they want to put out into the world. They also get the opportunity to participate in a book launch event each year in May to read their published works in front of friends, caregivers, support workers and family, if they wish.
This year they will have two book launches, one in Mount Pleasant for kids in programs in that neighbourhood, and another at the main 877 E. Hastings St. location.
“A big part of the Writers’ Exchange is giving the kids autonomy, empowering them to make choices and letting them have input in their experience here,” says Layzell. “When it comes to story writing, we work on story writing prompts and helping them. The volunteers play a big role in that but it’s whatever the kids feel they want to write. For some of them, writing is a challenge, so a win for them is just a few sentences.”
Magdy leads the group in a colouring activity for Ramadan, while those who want to finish up their contribution for the chapbook sit down one-on-one with a volunteer at a laptop.
Their names in print
The Writers’ Exchange publishes a quarterly chapbook, including anything the kids want to write about, draw or share in print. The pages include creative contributions like poetry and tales of fantasy, comics, like and dislikes, top 10 favourite songs, fictional cafe menus, prose on why everyone should listen to K-Pop, ranking Ninjago from best to worst, and so much more,
“It’s very fun but it’s also very heart-warming to see,” Layzell says.
“Everybody claps and applauds, you can see how proud the kids feel. Not only have they overcome whatever fear or anxiety they had in that moment, but they get to hold this book that actually holds the words that they worked on, so it really is special.”
Students to volunteers
At the end of the afternoon, children are getting picked up, and others bundle up to join the walking bus back to the designated pick-up/drop-off areas. Volunteers sit down at a table to discuss how the day went.
In a testament to the program and the organization, the volunteer group includes several individuals who had participated in the Writers’ Exchange programs as kids themselves and are now eager to give back.
One says it was because they found a sense of belonging and community through Dungeons & Dragons in the program, while another, who now studies media in post-secondary school, enjoys
staying on top of current trends through the kids — though keeping up with the latest school yard lingo is always a challenge.
Layzell had first learned about Writers’ Exchange at the East Side Flea. As he read the books and learned about what the programs were, he thought he’d volunteer. Seven years later, a job opening came up for its volunteer and community coordinator and he jumped at the chance.
“I’ve just really grown to appreciate what the programs do, and the kids and the families that we support are all amazing.
“It’s an inspiring place to be. I didn’t hesitate to volunteer. You really understand how much you can give back when you’re in a program like this because it’s such a part of the community.”
Volunteer opportunities are available for a recommended six-month term (at least) which helps build a rapport with the students (https://vancouverwe.com/ vancouver-volunteer-opportunities). All Writers' Exchange programs are free for the kids, youth and families they serve, so they rely on the time given by volunteers and contributions from generous donors (https://vancouverwe. com/donate-literacy-programs). Learn more at vancouverwe.com
Rebecca Bollwitt has been writing about events and travel in B.C. since 2004 on the multi-award-winning blog Miss604.com.
t The team from the Writers' Exchange makes literacy, art and all creative expression fun and accessible for kids Regardless of the activity, the important thing is that they’re here, they’re engaged in some capacity, they have fun, they have access to healthy snacks and they’re safe,' says Matt Layzell (top row, second from left), volunteer and community coordinator at the Writers' Exchange, which is based in the Downtown Eastside. p Some recent submissions from the Writers' Exchange's quarterly chapbooks. Photos by Rebecca Bollwitt.