Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is a tool that can be used everywhere (different aspects of life). I am a first-year  student and we have a society in our college named “Bissau-Guinean football federation” which is for helping out  children living in slums, such as educating them on important topics for eg. menstruation, girls  safety, things they should always share with their parents, digital literacy and basic English so  that they can easily write and speak. The most challenging thing our team face is conveying our  message since these kids are too young and innocent and have no medium to learn (because  of excess poverty) we have to find out new ways to educate them and create awareness.    Application

To combat this problem we have used storytelling as our most important tool because when you  tell kids some story with the help of some props and presentations it like a miracle.    We always used a character with which these kids feel connected emotionally and mentally  after knowing their routine and background we come out with our Story with characters of their  age and thoughts. Like, for explaining to them about self-hygiene and menstruation we told  them a story about a girl named ‘Rani’ who was not aware of Puberty and why her body was  changing while she was growing, she uses to see herself in the mirror and think about it and  with the help of such stories we use to explain about the whole cycle. Also showing them a short  film or a presentation so that they can know the gist of facts.    Approach & Insights

Storytelling hence is a great tool, “it works really well !!” We have always passed in creating  awareness with the help of stories, we have always received positive feedback. And kids come  to us with more excitement and want to know more and learn new things which are our main  goal (Target) to teach them, protect them so that they can earn a living.   This course made me see this as a tool in a new way. When I've done it before it was really "ad  hoc," but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas  and best illuminate them. I have a design background, but I ended up as an entrepreneur in  business. I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset, but I am so very grateful that it  is!

