Teen girl’s writing program to unleash creativity, build friendships

For teen girls seeking a platform to unleash their immigration and connect with more friends, a Richmond non-profit launched a program this summer.

Hot Ink, a creative writing program hosted by Richmond Women's Resource Centre (RWRC), has returned to Richmond this year with poetry scavenger hunts, folklore creating, story chain and group writing. 

This year’s program is open to girls aged eight to 12 and features new activities which aim to boost self-confidence and leadership skills, said Elaine Hu, an administrative assistant with RWRC, a mostly volunteer-run group that offers peer support, training and education to local women. 

“I understand that most high school students don’t want to sit in another class with teachers lecturing them for an hour and thirty minutes. Hot Ink isn’t only about creative writing, it’s more about having fun and connecting with others within the community,” said Hu. 

Some exercises in the program also help students to develop soft skills, such as expressing their feelings through poetry writing, explained Hu.

RWRC has been running Hot Ink since 2010. Even the pandemic didn’t stop them last year when more than 50 students joined the program via Zoom, added Hu. 

Students' work will be published in the Hot Ink magazine when the writing program comes to an end. 

There will be a total of 12 classes running every Thursday from 3-5 p.m. at Richmond Caring Place. 

For more information, visit https://richmondwomenscentre.bc.ca/project/hot-ink/.