Imagine a program that focuses on inspiring young women to read and write to experience the pure joy of doing so; a program that fosters self-esteem and leadership skills and the importance of self-expression. You’ve just imaged Girls Write the World’s Summer Program and Writer’s Retreat, right here in Greenville, Mississippi.
Girls Write the World (GWTW), an all-volunteer organization, is dedicated to providing free, accessible writing and youth development programs to young women in grades 9th – 12th throughout Washington County. For the last three years, Sara Hutchinson, Director of Girls Write the World, and her colleagues, Kenrica Sands, Madison Walsh and Sloane Winters, all former Teach for America (TFA) corps members, have returned to Washington County to produce a weekend writer’s retreat each spring as well as a week long day camp each summer.
Since its inception in 2015, Girls Write the World has served over 45 young women, created over 200 pieces of original poetry, published three camper poetry anthologies and produced four public showcases. The GWTW curriculum centers around works of poetry and focuses on themes of social change, creativity and identify. Its mission is to provide a safe space for female creativity, to build leadership skills, self-esteem, and community and to celebrate, affirm, and project young, female voices. Through a unique combination of creative writing classes, social justice workshops, health education and college counseling, GWTW empowers participants to be brave, confident advocates for themselves and their community.
“I grew to love the Delta community as a Teach for America Corps Member and even though I was moving away, I knew I had to do something to make a positive impact on the youth of this community,” says Hutchinson. “I wanted to build a safe space for my students to create and grow together. Working with these spectacular young women is a life-enriching experience for me as well as my other counselors. As volunteers, we are committed to traveling from all over the county to see this programming continue to change the lives of the young women we have the privilege of serving at our camp and at our retreat each year.” “We are so pleased to now have an established fund affiliated with the Community Foundation of Washington County for Girls Write the World. Having a local fund here in the Delta and having access to the Community Foundation’s expertise will be a huge benefit to our organization and will allow us to focus on expanding and enhancing our scope of programming.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Girls Write the World in the establishment of this fund and are excited that our donors will have the opportunity to support the incredible work Girls Write the World does here in our community,” said Doug Wade, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Collaborative efforts like this with other non-profit organizations and community leaders are the essence of what community foundations are all about and how they can benefit the community they serve beyond simply raising money and granting money. The Community Foundation gives individuals the opportunity to share their passions and to encourage others to share their passions through the establishment of funds like this.”
“Donors can contribute to this fund and play a significant role in the development of young women with strength, passion, self-confidence and a renewed sense of creativity and love for the written word,” comments Hutchinson. “Through the generosity of our donors, young women in the Mississippi Delta will have the opportunity to learn leadership skills, enhance their reading and writing abilities, showcase their inner talents and celebrate their voices throughout their community.”
To support the mission of Girls Write the World, please visit the Foundation’s secure website at www.cfwashco.org to give online. You may also send your donation to the Community Foundation of Washington County at the following address:
Community Foundation of Washington County
P.O. Box 5910
Greenville, MS 38704
Be sure to put the Girls Write the World Fund in the memo line.
