Young Authors Project Charitable Trust

VISION

Young Authors Project (YAP) helps young people, with incurable or inoperable life limiting illnesses, aged 4 - 20, feel the pride and accomplishment of becoming published authors.

With an initial geographical focus on the greater Auckland area, YAP’s goal is to expand it’s focus throughout NZ over the next 3-5 years.

MISSION

YAP’s mission is to personally meet and collaborate with youth, who have life limiting illnesses, and their families to create stories through imaginative exploration and creative writing. The process aims to provide a creative outlet and respite for patients suffering from chronic pain, immobility and emotional distress.

By meeting with the young authors and their families, YAP facilitates a temporary escape into a world where the child has complete control over their story’s destiny. What cannot be controlled in real life, can be controlled in the pages of a story when the author is at the helm. Whether writing a completely fictional fairy-tale, or a more self-inspired account of their own life story, the young author becomes the driver determining where their story will go and what messages are personally important to share. They will also have the choice to illustrate their own story or work with a graphic artist.

Their book, in part, serves as their legacy and gives an opportunity for each child to make their mark and leave their voice in the world.

Engaging the young authors with the entire book publishing process, from narrative development through printing, strives to offer a focus beyond their daily routine of doctors and medications, while giving the child a positive and tangible goal to look forward to.

YAP works with local printers so that the opportunity exists for the young author, if they are physically able, to visit the printing facility and observe the book being created.

Each young author receives a minimum of 25 book copies to share with family, friends, local libraries, etc. Wherever possible, YAP encourages the author and their family to celebrate their personal accomplishment with an event such as a book reading/signing at a community based organization.