Who We Are
Write to Rise is a South African literacy and youth development initiative founded by Craig Esbend, in collaboration with his daughter, Anzli Esbend, under SA Suburbs Publications. We exist to honour, preserve, and amplify young voices by transforming everyday school writing into professionally published works.
Born from a moment that revealed how easily children’s words are discarded, Write to Rise challenges the belief that student writing is disposable. We believe every story, poem, and reflection is art, identity, and potential — deserving to be seen, valued, and remembered.
Through publishing and celebration, we give young writers a voice, confidence, and the power to rise through their words.
Vision & Mission
Our Vision
To build a generation of confident, expressive, and empowered young South Africans who believe their voices matter.
Our Mission
- • Preserve student writing through professional publication
- • Inspire confidence, creativity, and literacy excellence
- • Create sustainable, no-cost fundraising opportunities for schools
- • Transform classroom work into lifelong keepsakes
What We Do
Write to Rise is a school-based literacy publishing programme for Primary and High Schools. Each term, we work with teachers to select 3–5 standout pieces per grade — including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, and creative writing. These works are professionally edited, beautifully designed, and published into a high-quality quarterly book that learners, families, and schools treasure.
How It Works
Simple Steps. Extraordinary Impact.
The School’s Role
Teachers simply select standout work from everyday classroom activities — no extra marking and no added workload.
Our Role
- Editing
- Design & layout
- Print preparation
- Project coordination
Printing & Funding
Initial production costs are fully covered through:
- Book sales
- Sponsors and partners
This ensures zero financial risk to the school.