2024 - 2025
Blue Poem
By Zhona, age 10
Blue is the colour of gloom But it can also bloom Like lavenders and food like Blueberries and a perfect blue Mood. Blue can fly up high while The blue jays rise. Blue is like The waves of an ocean, like a Pretty blue potion
All of our programs take place on the traditional and stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Səlílwətaʔ Nations. We recognize that we all work within ongoing systems of oppression and colonization, and we commit to being a decolonial ally by building long-term relationships and by listening to, learning from, and amplifying the voices of our Indigenous friends.
The Writers’ Exchange is a community that supports under-resourced kids and youth to build their confidence and get excited about reading, writing and their own potential!
All kids will grow up with the power to make their own choices, achieve anything and be happy.
“Writers’ Exchange feels better than anything, best place on Earth." —M, Grade 2 participant
Program Highlights
369 unique kids and youth at 8 sites
112 pages of 172 stories. Our thickest chapbook ever!
98 unique program volunteers
10,281.5 hours of program time!
“I've spent the last two years working on the Monday program. I've spent more time recently with one of these kids, who last year was very shy—not just socially, but also when reading out loud. This year I noticed her confidence increase socially, but she still usually read along silently or took on the smaller passages and let her best friend read. I was so thrilled that during the last session of term when I asked if she wanted to read to me, she not only didn't hesitate, but seemed confident, calm and happy reading aloud one-on-one. She had really improved not just in her confidence, but her reading was excellent too!"
—Cherry Volunteer since 2020
"I so enjoy the launch of the book and watching the poetry readers get up to read their stories. Beautiful and very inspiring."
—Caregiver of an 877 program participant
We Worked with Kids and Youth From:
Admiral Seymour Elementary
Aries
Britannia Secondary
Gladstone Secondary
Hastings Community Centre
King George Secondary
Lord Strathcona Elementary
Queen Alexandra Elementary
Templeton Secondary
Thunderbird Community Centre
¿uuqinak'uuh Grandview Elementary
Vancouver Technical Secondary
Windermere Secondary
χpey̓ Elementary
Elementary After-school
295 kids in 11 programs at 5 sites
School Time
3 lunchtime programs at 3 schools for 37 kids
High School Transition
26 unique grade 6 and 7 youth from 4 schools
High School
74 youth from 5 schools participating at 3 different sites
Summer
155 kids and youth, 88 more registration spots than last year!
45 unique volunteers
1959.5 program hours
5 new partners
Higher attendance rates than last year due to our schedule re-design after consultation with caregivers
92% of kids and youth feel a sense of belonging (up from 82% last year).
“It feels welcoming, I can always come here for anything.”
“Writers' Exchange feels like a big family.”
94% of kids and youth feel like the adults listen to them.
86% of participants think that Writers’ Exchange has helped them feel more comfortable trying to read.
“I see I read faster, I would like to work on slowing down so people can understand me.”
87% of kids and youth are more comfortable trying to write because of the Writers' Exchange.
“I feel happy and proud of myself.”
“It’s inspiring.”
"We really appreciate being part of such a wonderful program." —Caregiver of a Queen Alexandra participant
Plus $111,436.10 of in-kind support, including book printing from Hemlock Printers, printing from Bond Reproductions Inc., program space from Vancouver School Board, food from the GVFB and Premium Brands, design and branding materials from Ink Pad and 5429 hours of volunteer time.
By the Numbers
New in 2025-2026
We’re so proud of the kids and youth and all they achieved this year with your support. Here’s a BIG thank you to every single member of our Writers' Exchange community! Your passion and generosity have a huge impact on everything we do.
This October, we held our first-ever fundraising event sponsored by City in Focus Foundation and it was a tremendous success! Together, we raised $18,000 to support the kids and youth in our programs.
Seven enthusiastic teams from Axis Insurance, Blakes, Low Tide Properties, SFU Women’s Basketball and individual supporters joined us for a fast-paced writing challenge, racing against the clock to collaboratively create an original story.
A panel of youth judges who all participate in our high-school programs, selected the inaugural winning team and story, helping us celebrate community, creativity and the power of their voices.
Next year we’ll do it again, raise even more funds and welcome more supporters into our community!
Team Building Workshops Fundraising Event
We’re always looking for new ways to share the incredible writing created by the kids and youth in our programs. One exciting way we’ll be doing this is by offering Team Building Workshops for corporations, businesses, and groups.
These workshops help teams strengthen creativity, collaboration, and connection through a customdesigned creative writing experience. Participants will get inspired by stories written by Writers’ Exchange kids and youth, while also getting a taste of what it’s like to join one of our fun, highenergy writing programs.
Best of all, each workshop booked directly funds a writing workshop for an under-resourced classroom in East Vancouver. Teams can build memories while having a big impact on the underresourced kids in our city!
If you would like to book a workshop with us, email Jennifer at jmacleod@vancouverwe.com