Reflection-Storytelling

Challenge:

I am a master student in field of science, technology and innovation. As a part of my overall

studies and research that I undertake at university, I often come across challenges faced by

our society. One of the problems that I saw and may be quite important one from the

perspective of a human being is global hunger crisis. The problem is very severe in my own

country, India. Millions of people go without food to bed every day, ironically the country

has huge production in crops and other food resources. I have seen people surviving on one

meal per day in big cities, the situation is even worse in rural areas. While the country is

showing tremendous growth in economic parameters, this challenge still remains a top

priority for the nation.

Selection:

I have often noticed that people relate with ourselves better, if we can share with them real

life experiences in form of stories and then they think of similar situations with their own

lives or with them being part of that story. By this way you can provide them with a different

viewpoint, which is useful in different situations. Overall, storytelling is a great way to share

your thoughts and invoke similar thinking in your audience.

Application:

Once I had a chance to work with an NGO, which was involved in providing food assistance

to the poor and homeless people across Delhi, my home city. As part of my field work, I used

to interact with people involved in food business such as caterers, restaurant owners and even

big hotel chains and once conducted a joint session for them. I observed that most of these

people used to throw the extra food at the end of their business day, which could have been

consumed by a lot of needy people. Moreover, I found that these business owners wanted to

help people in need but didn’t know how to accomplish it. Then I decided to share story

about a homeless guy near our home who used to search for food near any place possible.

“One day while throwing my trash, I observed that a guy is frantically looking for food items

near trash bin. I stood there and looked what he was doing, even though there was food lying

there, but it was all ruined due to summer temperature. This sight was very painful for me

and that day I realized the importance of food and decided not to waste extra food or better

share it with needy people. Next day, I asked my mom to keep all the extra food in a

container, after that I personally handed it to the homeless guy in evening. This gesture of

mine brought a big smile to his face and he even gave me his blessings”. The people sitting in

the  audience were moved by my gesture, they decided to sign a pledge and committed to

donate extra food prepared during business days to nearest NGO’s, home shelters or

community kitchens instead of throwing it.

Insights:

Story telling can really do wonders, I realize this fact now more than ever. After sharing this

story, people in the room clapped with appreciation and realized how a small gesture of their

can bring a huge change in lives of people in need. In my opinion this tool helped me add a

personal touch to the seemingly straight forward conversation. I noticed that people were

more enthusiastic about participating in this cause when they found someone taking initiative

towards a social crisis and finally deciding themselves to volunteer for the same. This shows

that although the effort might be small, it still has a potential to change the world to a better

place.

Approach:

The knowledge I gained by during this course helped me understand the true potential of

storytelling in design thinking. In future, I will try to explore this tool further by using it as a

mode of conveying social message in my research work. The idea is to expand this tool even

further by engaging stakeholders on a much larger scale and implementing it to solve other

challenges.


Reflection - Storytelling Challenge : I am a master student in field of science , technology and innovation . As a part of my overall studies and research that I undertake at university , I often come across challenges faced by our society . One of the problems that I saw and may be quite important one from the perspective of a human being is global hunger crisis . The problem is very severe in my own country , India . Millions of people go without food to bed every day , ironically the country has huge production in crops and other food resources . I have seen people surviving on one meal per day in big cities , the situation is even worse in rural areas . While the country is showing tremendous growth in economic parameters , this challenge still remains a top priority for the nation . Selection : I have often noticed that people relate with ourselves better , if we can share with them real life experiences in form of stories and then they think of similar situations with their own lives or with them being part of that story . By this way you can provide them with a different viewpoint , which is useful in different situations . Overall , storytelling is a great way to share your thoughts and invoke similar thinking in your audience . Application : Once I had a chance to work with an NGO , which was involved in providing food assistance to the poor and homeless people across Delhi , my home city . As part of my field work , I used to interact with people involved in food business such as caterers , restaurant owners and even big hotel chains and once conducted a joint session for them . I observed that most of these people used to throw the extra food at the end of their business day , which could have been consumed by a lot of needy people . Moreover , I found that these business owners wanted to help people in need but did n’t know how to accomplish it . Then I decided to share story about a homeless guy near our home who used to search for food near any place possible . “ One day while throwing my trash , I observed that a guy is frantically looking for food items near trash bin . I stood there and looked what he was doing , even though there was food lying there , but it was all ruined due to summer temperature . This sight was very painful for me and that day I realized the importance of food and decided not to waste extra food or better share it with needy people . Next day , I asked my mom to keep all the extra food in a container , after that I personally handed it to the homeless guy in evening . This gesture of mine brought a big smile to his face and he even gave me his blessings ” . The people sitting in the audience were moved by my gesture , they decided to sign a pledge and committed to donate extra food prepared during business days to nearest NGO ’s , home shelters or community kitchens instead of throwing it . Insights : Story telling can really do wonders , I realize this fact now more than ever . After sharing this story , people in the room clapped with appreciation and realized how a small gesture of their can bring a huge change in lives of people in need . In my opinion this tool helped me add a personal touch to the seemingly straight forward conversation . I noticed that people were more enthusiastic about participating in this cause when they found someone taking initiative towards a social crisis and finally deciding themselves to volunteer for the same . This shows that although the effort might be small , it still has a potential to change the world to a better place . Approach : The knowledge I gained by during this course helped me understand the true potential of storytelling in design thinking . In future , I will try to explore this tool further by using it as a mode of conveying social message in my research work . The idea is to expand this tool even further by engaging stakeholders on a much larger scale and implementing it to solve other challenges .