We could not have asked for a more powerful first international book project, or a more inspiring group of young women with whom to write.

One of the many delights was seeing our new authors meeting, so to speak, our already published authors from Reach Inc and Ballou High School: the girls loved reading the high-flying adventures from Reach and the bravely vulnerable essays from Ballou.

Watching our authors share their wisdom with each other was nothing short of inspiring, especially when one considers the cultural and linguistic divide between Washington, D.C., and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It is a testament to the power of their stories that our authors are able to transcend such divides on the page, to illuminate their experiences and inform others. Across languages, across oceans, these young people are using their voices in powerful ways; they teach us that everybody has a story, and nobody is ever alone.

Watch Restavek Freedom writer Rosemyrtha connect to the words and struggles of the authors of Ballou High school in the videos below.