good afternoon everyone my name is Ben I’m co-founder and co-director of the
I’m co-founder and co-director of the
I’m co-founder and co-director of the ministries stories which is a writing a
ministries stories which is a writing a
ministries stories which is a writing a mentoring center for children in East
mentoring center for children in East
mentoring center for children in East London we work with all kinds of
London we work with all kinds of
London we work with all kinds of children between age between 8 and 18
children between age between 8 and 18
children between age between 8 and 18 and as was said we are based on an idea
and as was said we are based on an idea
and as was said we are based on an idea from America which are the eight to six
from America which are the eight to six
from America which are the eight to six centers now the unique thing about these
centers now the unique thing about these
centers now the unique thing about these centers are that they all have an
centers are that they all have an
centers are that they all have an imaginary shop connected to it so this
imaginary shop connected to it so this
imaginary shop connected to it so this is the shop in New York in Brooklyn
is the shop in New York in Brooklyn
is the shop in New York in Brooklyn which is a superhero supply store so you
which is a superhero supply store so you
which is a superhero supply store so you can go there and you can buy a cape and
can go there and you can buy a cape and
can go there and you can buy a cape and you can test it out on a wind machine
you can test it out on a wind machine
you can test it out on a wind machine just to check out that it’s really works
just to check out that it’s really works
just to check out that it’s really works properly you can also buy things that
properly you can also buy things that
properly you can also buy things that help you climb the walls and some
help you climb the walls and some
help you climb the walls and some parents are a bit dismayed to find out
parents are a bit dismayed to find out
parents are a bit dismayed to find out that they actually work so and this is
that they actually work so and this is
that they actually work so and this is us so we are the ministry of stories and
us so we are the ministry of stories and
us so we are the ministry of stories and hawks and street monster supplies which
hawks and street monster supplies which
hawks and street monster supplies which is the only shop we know that caters to
is the only shop we know that caters to
is the only shop we know that caters to the everyday needs of every imaginable
the everyday needs of every imaginable
the everyday needs of every imaginable kind of monster but what we’re really
kind of monster but what we’re really
kind of monster but what we’re really about is writing obviously and one of
about is writing obviously and one of
about is writing obviously and one of the great things about being connected
the great things about being connected
the great things about being connected to these centers in America and all over
to these centers in America and all over
to these centers in America and all over the world is that there are children
the world is that there are children
the world is that there are children there that can write and write back and
there that can write and write back and
there that can write and write back and create stuff together so we thought we’d
create stuff together so we thought we’d
create stuff together so we thought we’d take advantage of that and by doing a
take advantage of that and by doing a
take advantage of that and by doing a project called letters out loud where
project called letters out loud where
project called letters out loud where children from our writing clubs wrote
children from our writing clubs wrote
children from our writing clubs wrote two other children all around the world
two other children all around the world
two other children all around the world and got replies and so we thought that
and got replies and so we thought that
and got replies and so we thought that we give you a little taste of what
we give you a little taste of what
we give you a little taste of what they’ve done of the letters they wrote
they’ve done of the letters they wrote
they’ve done of the letters they wrote to some friends and what they wrote back
to some friends and what they wrote back
to some friends and what they wrote back so over to selling last year the clubs
so over to selling last year the clubs
so over to selling last year the clubs at Emmaus stories took a break from
at Emmaus stories took a break from
at Emmaus stories took a break from inventing characters plots and poems we
inventing characters plots and poems we
inventing characters plots and poems we focused on sharing our own stories in
focused on sharing our own stories in
focused on sharing our own stories in series of letters writing from the
series of letters writing from the
series of letters writing from the ministry stories across the globe as we
ministry stories across the globe as we
ministry stories across the globe as we got to know children in Sydney New York
got to know children in Sydney New York
got to know children in Sydney New York and boss
and boss
and boss them I’ve a listen to these two friends
them I’ve a listen to these two friends
them I’ve a listen to these two friends from different sides of the Atlantic
near boy or girl hi I am Melinda I am
near boy or girl hi I am Melinda I am writing to tell you more about London
writing to tell you more about London
writing to tell you more about London and Alex questions about your place and
and Alex questions about your place and
and Alex questions about your place and to know more about I have two best
to know more about I have two best
to know more about I have two best friends Scylla and us up I like to dance
friends Scylla and us up I like to dance
friends Scylla and us up I like to dance I dance in the morning to keep fit and I
I dance in the morning to keep fit and I
I dance in the morning to keep fit and I love singing because I like to sing to
love singing because I like to sing to
love singing because I like to sing to express Who I am what is your favorite
express Who I am what is your favorite
express Who I am what is your favorite hobby I do not like Justin Bieber but I
hobby I do not like Justin Bieber but I
hobby I do not like Justin Bieber but I like rap music like Nicki Minaj also
like rap music like Nicki Minaj also
like rap music like Nicki Minaj also sometimes I like classical music also
sometimes I like classical music also
sometimes I like classical music also like to travel to places I went to
like to travel to places I went to
like to travel to places I went to Greece through an add-on Cold Creek
Greece through an add-on Cold Creek
Greece through an add-on Cold Creek where have you been I like London and it
where have you been I like London and it
where have you been I like London and it is rainy cold and windy by never snowed
is rainy cold and windy by never snowed
is rainy cold and windy by never snowed in Christmas as it’s no doubt Christmas
in Christmas as it’s no doubt Christmas
in Christmas as it’s no doubt Christmas for you I went to Legoland hair and self
for you I went to Legoland hair and self
for you I went to Legoland hair and self and also the making at Disneyland hair
and also the making at Disneyland hair
and also the making at Disneyland hair but I bet Disneyland ER is better have
but I bet Disneyland ER is better have
but I bet Disneyland ER is better have you ever been to Disneyland I hope I get
you ever been to Disneyland I hope I get
you ever been to Disneyland I hope I get to know you better PS please write back
to know you better PS please write back
to know you better PS please write back best wishes from Melinda dear Melinda hi
best wishes from Melinda dear Melinda hi
best wishes from Melinda dear Melinda hi my name is Brooklyn how old are you I’m
my name is Brooklyn how old are you I’m
my name is Brooklyn how old are you I’m 8 years old I like puppies and kitties
8 years old I like puppies and kitties
8 years old I like puppies and kitties at dolphins to what pet do you like I
at dolphins to what pet do you like I
at dolphins to what pet do you like I like to play ping pong and I also like
like to play ping pong and I also like
like to play ping pong and I also like to travel to fun and amazing places and
to travel to fun and amazing places and
to travel to fun and amazing places and I love your name what do you like to
I love your name what do you like to
I love your name what do you like to play in London and what do you do in
play in London and what do you do in
play in London and what do you do in London dear Brooklyn hashed out far far
London dear Brooklyn hashed out far far
London dear Brooklyn hashed out far far far away best friend
far away best friend
far away best friend [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] hi it’s me Melinda again I am 9 years
hi it’s me Melinda again I am 9 years
hi it’s me Melinda again I am 9 years old also love puppies kitties and
old also love puppies kitties and
old also love puppies kitties and dolphins but also love ants because of
dolphins but also love ants because of
dolphins but also love ants because of the antennas I love to play ping pong to
the antennas I love to play ping pong to
the antennas I love to play ping pong to you also love to play table tennis I
you also love to play table tennis I
you also love to play table tennis I love to travel to we have so much in
love to travel to we have so much in
love to travel to we have so much in common I love travelling to fun places
common I love travelling to fun places
common I love travelling to fun places can you be my best friend I love your
can you be my best friend I love your
can you be my best friend I love your name too why do in London is play I love
name too why do in London is play I love
name too why do in London is play I love to play tag love hashtag see you later
you can use letters for more than just
you can use letters for more than just making new friends we’ve also written to
making new friends we’ve also written to
making new friends we’ve also written to letter to important people already in
letter to important people already in
letter to important people already in our lives bummed out what we’re up to
our lives bummed out what we’re up to
our lives bummed out what we’re up to our families and friends day got better
our families and friends day got better
our families and friends day got better family how are you I really miss you
family how are you I really miss you
family how are you I really miss you remember we used to play out loud mr
remember we used to play out loud mr
remember we used to play out loud mr Davey remember that all friend also I
Davey remember that all friend also I
Davey remember that all friend also I really want to see you again in the
really want to see you again in the
really want to see you again in the half-term I went to Oxford circuits its
half-term I went to Oxford circuits its
half-term I went to Oxford circuits its massive I’m sure you’d like it now I
massive I’m sure you’d like it now I
massive I’m sure you’d like it now I mean 85 don’t worry you’ll be there soon
mean 85 don’t worry you’ll be there soon
mean 85 don’t worry you’ll be there soon guess what I believe her for booting
guess what I believe her for booting
guess what I believe her for booting controlled-access he I have to go now
controlled-access he I have to go now
controlled-access he I have to go now but I love to hear back from you from
but I love to hear back from you from
but I love to hear back from you from your cousin Michael
you said we have to write letters just
you said we have to write letters just free space but also written letters
free space but also written letters
free space but also written letters trouble free time will read these
trouble free time will read these
trouble free time will read these letters to our future selves when
letters to our future selves when
letters to our future selves when they’re adults and see if we still being
they’re adults and see if we still being
they’re adults and see if we still being true to ourselves dear future mean 2026
true to ourselves dear future mean 2026
true to ourselves dear future mean 2026 I’m writing to you from 2016 I hope
I’m writing to you from 2016 I hope
I’m writing to you from 2016 I hope you’ve done the things I thought when I
you’ve done the things I thought when I
you’ve done the things I thought when I was nine which was being an engineer
was nine which was being an engineer
was nine which was being an engineer studying computer mechanics and having
studying computer mechanics and having
studying computer mechanics and having my own house do you remember why you
my own house do you remember why you
my own house do you remember why you wanted to be an engineer it’s because I
wanted to be an engineer it’s because I
wanted to be an engineer it’s because I thought it was good and I can be helpful
thought it was good and I can be helpful
thought it was good and I can be helpful so people don’t throw away computer and
so people don’t throw away computer and
so people don’t throw away computer and console so I commend them where do you
console so I commend them where do you
console so I commend them where do you live I hope you live in New York or
live I hope you live in New York or
live I hope you live in New York or London in a big house with enormous
London in a big house with enormous
London in a big house with enormous garden I hope I hope you have a
garden I hope I hope you have a
garden I hope I hope you have a trampoline Petrie’s pet a swimming pool
trampoline Petrie’s pet a swimming pool
trampoline Petrie’s pet a swimming pool basketball pitch consoles and a Wi-Fi I
basketball pitch consoles and a Wi-Fi I
basketball pitch consoles and a Wi-Fi I [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] hope
hope
hope [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I hope you make good choices I hope
I hope you make good choices I hope
I hope you make good choices I hope you’re happy y’all sincerely past Alex
now have you heard what being being
now have you heard what being being writing we hope you are inspired to give
writing we hope you are inspired to give
writing we hope you are inspired to give letters a chance make new friends
letters a chance make new friends
letters a chance make new friends reconnect with distant family and/or
reconnect with distant family and/or
reconnect with distant family and/or send a message into distant future
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so yeah hopefully that has inspired you
so yeah hopefully that has inspired you
so yeah hopefully that has inspired you and maybe to get involved with projects
and maybe to get involved with projects
and maybe to get involved with projects like us what we’re really about is
like us what we’re really about is
like us what we’re really about is trying to develop children’s confidence
trying to develop children’s confidence
trying to develop children’s confidence creativity and motivation to write but
creativity and motivation to write but
creativity and motivation to write but most of all to try and make it fun so in
most of all to try and make it fun so in
most of all to try and make it fun so in the six years that we’ve been open we
the six years that we’ve been open we
the six years that we’ve been open we work with only over 10,000 children and
work with only over 10,000 children and
work with only over 10,000 children and we’ve trained 8,000 people to be
we’ve trained 8,000 people to be
we’ve trained 8,000 people to be volunteer writing mentors supporting
volunteer writing mentors supporting
volunteer writing mentors supporting children like this to make real advances
children like this to make real advances
children like this to make real advances with their writing so thank you for
with their writing so thank you for
with their writing so thank you for having us thank you for inviting us to
having us thank you for inviting us to
having us thank you for inviting us to come and talk to you at TEDx and finally
come and talk to you at TEDx and finally
come and talk to you at TEDx and finally I’d like you to thank selling Helen
I’d like you to thank selling Helen
I’d like you to thank selling Helen Michael Rockland and Michelle
Michael Rockland and Michelle
Michael Rockland and Michelle [Applause]
hey
hey [Music]
[Music]
[Music] okay thank you very much
okay thank you very much
okay thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
”
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