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Storytelling with Children of slums

“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way  around.”

—Terry Pratchett, Famous fantasy author

Challenge: I mostly work with children from economically deprived families or  vulnerable backgrounds. These children face oppression, humiliation and  exploitation. They do not have access to education, sports or medicine. Hence,  it’s easy to lure them to antisocial activities.

My challenge is to keep them motivated to get into free school to make them  eligible for higher study and engage them into sports that they don’t get into  antisocial activities. It’s a difficult task but I do it happily with storytelling.

Ref. Video of storytelling tool from week 2 of the course

Selection: Have you ever seen a child get ready for bed faster when you offer  to tell him or her a story? When kids have this to look forward to, their eyes  light up, they rush through the bathroom and get changed into their pyjamas.  Stories are magical to children. They are to adults, too. Ask any trainer or  teacher – the easiest way to get a room’s attention is to use the opening line,  “I want to tell you a story.” People stop talking and pay attention. Everyone  loves a story; none of us is ever too ‘old’ for a story.

Hence, I share lot of motivational stories of legends who were born in poor  families and later made a name for themselves. These stories help them to  visualise a better future and a glimpse of hopes. You need to connect with your  audience.

Ref.  Video of storytelling tool from week 2 of the course

Application: I along with few team members of Corporate Social Responsibility  team, applied story telling to these slum children. We identified and  segregated children into three different groups based upon their age and  interests. We shared stories with lots of audio and videos to give them a clear  visualisation. We shared great inspirational stories about academicians, sport  persons, poets, leaders.

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We guided them how to study with fun that they don’t become fearful about  formal schools. We gave them sporting equipment too. Few needed individual  attention and the needed more stories!

We introduced a reward mechanism. If a child study or play in proper manner  they are going to get some more story may be few funny stories. It helped and  worked like anything.

Insight: I really got good insight by telling stories to children from vulnerable  backgrounds. They listen, they question and you need an answer which is  logical. Hence you need to be prepared, you just simply can’t sale dreams.

It is evident from above that your story should have significant amount of data  that a child who does not have much exposure can relate too. You need to  engage every singly audience to your story to get the desired result.

Approach: I would select storytelling with more information and relatable  reference. Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared  insights and learning and feedback, next time I would use the storytelling  activity as a starting point for a series of design thinking activities. Then the  revised approach would be with a persona who achieved heights from similar  background instead of only audio and videos.


Page 1 of 2 Storytelling with Children of slums “ People think that stories are shaped by people . In fact , it ’s the other way around . ” — Terry Pratchett , Famous fantasy author Challenge : I mostly work with children from economically deprived families or vulnerable backgrounds . These children face oppression , humiliation and exploitation . They do not have access to education , sports or medicine . Hence , it ’s easy to lure them to antisocial activities . My challenge is to keep them motivated to get into free school to make them eligible for higher study and engage them into sports that they do n’t get into antisocial activities . It ’s a difficult task but I do it happily with storytelling . Ref . Video of storytelling tool from week 2 of the course Selection : Have you ever seen a child get ready for bed faster when you offer to tell him or her a story ? When kids have this to look forward to , their eyes light up , they rush through the bathroom and get changed into their pyjamas . Stories are magical to children . They are to adults , too . Ask any trainer or teacher – the easiest way to get a room ’s attention is to use the opening line , “ I want to tell you a story . ” People stop talking and pay attention . Everyone loves a story ; none of us is ever too ‘ old ’ for a story . Hence , I share lot of motivational stories of legends who were born in poor families and later made a name for themselves . These stories help them to visualise a better future and a glimpse of hopes . You need to connect with your audience . Ref . Video of storytelling tool from week 2 of the course Application : I along with few team members of Corporate Social Responsibility team , applied story telling to these slum children . We identified and segregated children into three different groups based upon their age and interests . We shared stories with lots of audio and videos to give them a clear visualisation . We shared great inspirational stories about academicians , sport persons , poets , leaders . Page 2 of 2 We guided them how to study with fun that they do n’t become fearful about formal schools . We gave them sporting equipment too . Few needed individual attention and the needed more stories ! We introduced a reward mechanism . If a child study or play in proper manner they are going to get some more story may be few funny stories . It helped and worked like anything . Insight : I really got good insight by telling stories to children from vulnerable backgrounds . They listen , they question and you need an answer which is logical . Hence you need to be prepared , you just simply ca n’t sale dreams . It is evident from above that your story should have significant amount of data that a child who does not have much exposure can relate too . You need to engage every singly audience to your story to get the desired result . Approach : I would select storytelling with more information and relatable reference . Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and learning and feedback , next time I would use the storytelling activity as a starting point for a series of design thinking activities . Then the revised approach would be with a persona who achieved heights from similar background instead of only audio and videos .