Country of Residence
United States
Age
16
Project title
Stories under the Sun
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
My Grade 11 civil project is to host Story Hours outdoors and in rural locations around Vermont, making them accessible to small communities and families without transportation to come to larger areas to hear great stories and share the fun of literacy!
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Pilot-Stage (We’ve tried an activity or two)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
Vermont is a rural state that makes getting from place to place difficult especially without funds or cars. I already help the unhoused and isolated by bringing food and toiletries into their areas and I would love to make more fun for the kids in these spaces! When I see kids sitting beside their families waiting for help and humanity I ACT. I’m so excited to expand books and story reading into these areas, year round, and outside, where they can feel safe and included.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Our state is making it harder for the unhoused by making temporary housing less accessible. This has led to even families with children living in their cars or tents, and our motel vouchers don’t start until winter. These kids deserve childhood. They deserve fun. They deserve books and literacy to hopefully stop the generational cycles. I was homeless for a little while and the family that let us stay with them had more books than I had ever seen in one place in my life. It changed my life and made me want to learn!!
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
By bringing books and stories directly into the communities that need them most, these kids will see a world so far beyond the walls around them. They’ll feel hope. They’ll know there are options. They’ll know people care and want to help!
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
I’m in an early age, and as a teen I can’t do as much as I want without help, BUT I was able to connect with a local community outreach that partners with the police, and they let me bring two boxes of arts and craft supplies into encampments with them! I told the kids there my goal was to be back by Halloween in a costume and with a book in hand!
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
People are working to tackle the bigger issues, but sometimes they forget about the faces and individuals at the bottom. My project bring direct services and humanity to the people that need it. My project won’t just hand someone something and hope they figure it out - mine will bring fun and laughter but most importantly inspiration!
How many people are on your team?
4
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
My project is myself and one other teen, our teacher, and the police resource co,unity officer from one of the areas I want to serve. He is planning to help me find safe ways into the other encampments, and our teacher has a map of rural pockets to come visit too.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
I’d like to partner with the Drag Story Hour hosts in our state! But if not I have plenty of costumes and book ideas to run with this all on my own. Our teacher source us books and resources to give away, but I can always use more financial support for that part! Here in Vermont winter doesn’t scare us, and gives us even more reason to want to get outside under the sun!!
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
I honestly am not sure yet. This is the part I struggle with the most, especially as a teen, sometimes I feel like I don’t have as much power or control. Maybe I could reach out to libraries? Would you have suggestions if we get to work together?
