Telling Our Own Stories was envisioned as a platform for global youth to share their creative expression and learn from one another. Since the first issue was published in Ethiopia in 2012, writers and artists have had the opportunity to connect with their peers in different countries and cultures. These books have enabled participants to work together to devise relevant means of communication and community development. Some have been able to obtain jobs based on their published work, some have used inclusion in the book on college or job applications, while others have reported increases in self-esteem, or expressed satisfaction and joy in seeing their work in print. 

Telling Our Own Stories is compiled and published by Rhyme-N-Reason Foundation, and distributed free of charge.