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This year, two Sydney journalists are dreaming big. The Sydney Story Factory, officially launched by NSW Governor Marie Bashir at the Sydney Writers Festival in May, is due to officially open their doors in Redfern in November. This ‘Martian Embassy’ inspired space will be a place where disadvantaged kids can develop their creativity and connect with words to build their own imaginary world.

The concept is amazingly simple - create a fun and engaging environment for kids to begin a positive relationship with words and the stories will naturally follow. Kids are welcome aged seven to seventeen and they will learn that what they think and dream about really does matter.

Tutors are volunteers and many are experienced writers, journalists and teachers who will work alongside the kids helping them to create funny, exciting, well-written, re-edited, illustrated and sometimes published pieces of work.

Workshops have already begun in partnership with selected schools and once the ‘Embassy’ opens its doors later this year, after school programs will provide mentoring assistance in writing and publishing children’s projects in a variety of formats. Workshops will also run on weekends and during school holidays.

The Sydney Story Factory, founded by Catherine Keenan and Tim Dick, is built based on the 826 Valencia Project created by author Dave Eggers. ‘826’ opened in San Francisco in 2002 behind the Pirate Supply Store shopfront to comply with existing zoning regulations. It was a tremendous success and has since expanded within the US and the UK including New York (behind the Superhero Supply Co) and in London where novelist Nick Hornby opened Hoxton Street Monster Supplies.