The power of storytelling for social change within a post conflict society
A storytelling toolkit which will help empower, enable and encourage marginalised groups to share their life story and help them build a brighter future.
‘Past Present Future Change’ is aimed at youth workers, teachers and activists to help harness the power of storytelling to deliver positive change in post-conflict societies.
The downloadable toolkit, available here, enables facilitators to help young people to tell their story and transform their experience. It was created by Rory Doherty, founder of ‘Voicing the Void’ in Northern Ireland, with support from Social Change Initiative and Quaker Service.
A webinar launching the project featured Cristina Jiménez, co-founder of United We Dream, the renowned youth-led organisation using storytelling to push for change in immigration legislation in the United States. In this audio clip from the event Cristina discusses the theory behind her storytelling work.
Listen also to Cristina’s account of how storytelling has helped fuel social change in the United States.
Past Present Future Change was created by Rory Doherty as part of his SCI Fellowship, which helped him to study and apply models of international best practice for youth-based campaigns for positive change. Hear Rory outline his hopes for Past Present Future Change at its launch:
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma welcomed the unveiling of the new toolkit. She cited the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including its provision for the right to freedom of expression.
The Commissioner added: “So there it is. Our government are obliged to create that
space, to be that audience, for your stories to be told.”
