For the Kids

Meet the Faruqui Five—

a close-knit family of five from Ohio: parents Sofi and Tasha, and their three vibrant daughters—Yasmeen, Soraya, and Leena.

Each girl shines in her own way, with passions ranging from swimming and dance to all things glam and creative expression.

But their story goes far beyond hobbies and everyday moments.

At the heart of their journey is Soraya, who is bravely living with complex medical challenges that closely resemble ALS. Now receiving hospice care, Soraya continues to show up authentically, with the unwavering support of her family, to share what it truly looks like to live with this reality.

The Faruquis live by a powerful motto: “suck the joy out of life.” For them, it means intentionally seeking out moments of happiness—big or small—and holding onto them tightly, even in the hardest times.

Together, the Faruqui Five are sharing not just who they are, but what it means to face life with courage, authenticity, and a fierce commitment to finding joy in every moment.

Suck the joy out of life

Suck the joy out of life

Get Involved with issue 9

Get Griefy Magazine is currently seeking organizations to partner with, as well as experts and thought leaders in children’s grief and trauma-informed education, to collaborate on an upcoming issue.

Our goal is to create something that not only supports families and young people as they navigate grief, but also serves as a trusted hub of information and resources for the professionals who care for and guide them.

We are looking to feature powerful stories, mission-driven brands, and the meaningful work being done by youth-focused organizations. We also aim to provide space for experts to share their insights, while offering young readers relatable grief mentors they can look up to and connect with.

Why a kids issue?

Get Griefy Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Kera Sanchez, brings over 15 years of experience as a high school educator—13 years in the classroom as a Spanish teacher, and nearly two years serving as a Dean of Student Attendance.

In her most recent role, she worked closely with students to uncover the reasons behind chronic absenteeism, striving to bridge those gaps and create more opportunities for them to stay engaged with their education and their futures.

What she discovered was heartbreaking: many students were quietly giving up on their futures because of their pasts.

So many were carrying grief and loss without even realizing it. While some had experienced the death of a loved one, others were grieving less visible but equally profound losses—lack of acceptance among peers, strained or broken family relationships, a loss of identity, or the absence of confidence in their ability to succeed.

Grief was often the reason students stopped showing up—not just at school, but in life.

But what if grief could also be the reason they begin to show up again?

What if adolescents across the United States and beyond had access to resources that normalize their experiences, validate their emotions, and offer hope? That remind them that while they may have experienced loss, there is still so much to gain.

This issue of Get Griefy Magazine is being thoughtfully created with kids and families at its heart. Our goal is to provide a meaningful, accessible resource for those navigating grief—and for the communities who support them.

We can’t wait to share it with those who need it most.

If you want, I can tighten this into a shorter version (for a website) or make it more formal for a grant or partnership proposal.

Issue 9

Opportunities

Get Griefy Magazine is a grief-informed publication dedicated to helping individuals, families, and professionals better understand and navigate grief in all its forms, with a strong focus on living life fully after loss.

Because this magazine is independently run, we’ve created a structured submission model that allows us to amplify community voices while sustaining the editorial care and intention each story deserves. We offer a variety of free and paid opportunities, and all paid contributions help us continue to provide accessible grief resources and keep Get Griefy Magazine free for the community we serve.

    • For: Nonprofits & youth-serving organizations-This tier is designed to keep access open for mission-driven organizations that want to share support, resources, or awareness.

    • Content can include:

      We especially encourage submissions that feel engaging, relatable, and youth-centered, such as:

      • Curated lists (e.g., “5 things that helped our teens feel less alone in grief”)

      • Practical tips for coping, healing, or emotional regulation

      • Voices or quotes from youth or staff within your organization

      • “Did you know?” style grief education for young people

      • Fun or creative coping tools (music, journaling prompts, art ideas, grounding exercises, apps, etc.)

      • Real-life encouragement or messages directly to kids navigating grief

      Purpose: To amplify accessible, real-world grief support tools and highlight organizations doing meaningful, youth-centered work in a way that feels relatable, not clinical.

  • For: Nonprofits, brands, and organizations wanting visibility + storytelling space

    This tier is for organizations that want a deeper narrative presence and greater visibility.

    Includes:

    • Feature article (800–1,500+ words)

    • Expanded storytelling of mission + impact

    • Optional quotes/interviews

    • Multiple links + call-to-action

    • Inclusion in social/media promotion

    Benefits:

    • Deeper emotional connection with readers

    • Stronger brand/story positioning

  • For grief professionals, therapists, educators, and trauma-informed specialists contributing written pieces.

    Includes:

    • Editorial consideration for publication

    • Up to ~1,200 words (you can adjust)

    • Professional review for clarity, tone, and alignment

    • Inclusion in expert/resource section if accepted

    Purpose of fee:

    • Covers editorial time and review workload (you are one person)

    • Ensures serious, intentional submissions

    • Helps maintain quality and alignment with mission

  • For: Youth organizations, schools, and programs

    This is a dedicated space for young people to share lived experiences, art, writing, or reflections on grief.

    Includes:

    • Short youth-written pieces, quotes, or creative submissions

    • Optional prompts provided by Get Griefy Magazine

    • Organization-facilitated submissions encouraged (for safety + structure)

    • Light editorial support to preserve authenticity and voice

    Goal:
    To normalize grief conversations for young people and provide relatable “grief mentors” through peer storytelling.