Jamaludin Yap

Tool used : Story Telling

Challenge & reflection

Story telling is a great tool that I use all the time. I work with vulnerable populations,  developmentally disabled individuals, senior citizens, and economically disadvantaged  people. Many of these people deal with oppression and dysfunction n every aspect of their  lives, they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment. I spend a lot  of time opening people up and finding ways to inspire them to improve their circumstances.  When I work with seniors, we share stories for different reasons. Often they are lonely and  so are happy to share stories pf their lives with me to connect and they find meaning in  sharing these experiences as form of teaching and legacy ,in a sense.

With my developmentally disabled clients, I share stories of my life in order to help them  visualize a state of independence. I use their feedback in the context of my story to  ascertain their goals, and sometimes we use their stories to understand their interests and  thought process. I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way  that works for them to gain more independence in areas they find lacking in their lives.

Application

I have a story about using storytelling. In discussing policy changes with a old aged shelter, I  was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach, among  other things, and in particular, of recognizing each person as a unique being, and addressing  their individual needs first and foremost. The centre for old aged people was in the grip of a  compliance culture and its people were failing in this non-empathetic, rigid structure. I was  also trying to explain to them how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can  impact everyone for better, even it seems extreme or out of the ordinary.

I told a story when I met survivors of a large earthquake in north of Pakistan. Everyone was  doing well, though they were in shock obviously, as some had lost their family members,  their homes, and even their ways of livelihood. There was one man whose stress and  tension  made him look different from others. I could tell he needed attention, so I thought  why not giving him some time ad maybe that would help him out. I took him to my place,  offered him lunch and sat down with him and let him talk. He hold me that he just moved to  that area to find work. He was the only man in his family and he was a fruit vendor. And  because of this natural disaster , he was left all alone and his family died and he was left  with no other way to feed himself.

Insight

Well that was an eye opener. He was looking so stressed out and now it seems like he is a  bit relaxed after sharing his story. It was my turn to tell him my story . I told him that my  father also died in a car accident and that too when there was no one to look after the rest  of my family and all my siblings including me had to complete our studies as well. I told him  how scary that time was and how we went through tough time after my father’s demise.  This worked really well. All he needed was individual attention for that brief time. He  calmed down and now he believed when god puts someone in tough situations, he also has  ways to help us work through them.

Approach

I told this story to the old aged home and how they should make changes to their policy of  approaching people who are left with no one. Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good.

This course made me see this as a tool in a new way. Now I can prepare ahead and think of  stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them.


Jamaludin Yap Tool used : Story Telling Challenge & reflection Story telling is a great tool that I use all the time . I work with vulnerable populations , developmentally disabled individuals , senior citizens , and economically disadvantaged people . Many of these people deal with oppression and dysfunction n every aspect of their lives , they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment . I spend a lot of time opening people up and finding ways to inspire them to improve their circumstances . When I work with seniors , we share stories for different reasons . Often they are lonely and so are happy to share stories pf their lives with me to connect and they find meaning in sharing these experiences as form of teaching and legacy , in a sense . With my developmentally disabled clients , I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize a state of independence . I use their feedback in the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use their stories to understand their interests and thought process . I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in areas they find lacking in their lives . Application I have a story about using storytelling . In discussing policy changes with a old aged shelter , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . The centre for old aged people was in the grip of a compliance culture and its people were failing in this non - empathetic , rigid structure . I was also trying to explain to them how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for better , even it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story when I met survivors of a large earthquake in north of Pakistan . Everyone was doing well , though they were in shock obviously , as some had lost their family members , their homes , and even their ways of livelihood . There was one man whose stress and tension made him look different from others . I could tell he needed attention , so I thought why not giving him some time ad maybe that would help him out . I took him to my place , offered him lunch and sat down with him and let him talk . He hold me that he just moved to that area to find work . He was the only man in his family and he was a fruit vendor . And because of this natural disaster , he was left all alone and his family died and he was left with no other way to feed himself . Insight Well that was an eye opener . He was looking so stressed out and now it seems like he is a bit relaxed after sharing his story . It was my turn to tell him my story . I told him that my father also died in a car accident and that too when there was no one to look after the rest of my family and all my siblings including me had to complete our studies as well . I told him how scary that time was and how we went through tough time after my father ’s demise . This worked really well . All he needed was individual attention for that brief time . He calmed down and now he believed when god puts someone in tough situations , he also has ways to help us work through them . Approach I told this story to the old aged home and how they should make changes to their policy of approaching people who are left with no one . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see this as a tool in a new way . Now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them .