Samantha Fairhall, CEO of The Hope for Happiness, was the first 13th grade business student at Middleton Grange School to come up with the concept of The Little Book of Smiles with four classmates in 2018.

This group was a participant in the Young Enterprise Scheme. A program that provides support and mentoring for junior high school students to come up with innovative ideas and turn them into real businesses.

“I wanted to create resources that New Zealand youth could rely on in difficult times. I was always passionate about helping people and getting the best out of them.” Fairhall says.

“Everyone knows how big a mental health problem is in New Zealand, so I took this opportunity to act and see where the need lies.”

YES Canterbury Regional Coordinator Idoia Alday Gonzalez said: Students like Samantha are tomorrow’s leaders, and it is imperative that they be empowered to drive change at a young age. “

Interactive books feature short stories, inspiring citations, recipes, drawing pages, and thought-provoking questions. All of these are designed to facilitate mental health conversations and provide a safe space for teenagers and young adults to record and process their tasks.

Read more here.