STORYTELLING AS A COMMUNITY BUILDING METHOD
What is it about?
In the framework of the Aaddin programme senior volunteers help to develop a wide range of skills of young adults through the method of stortytelling.
Members of the storytelling group (one such group involves about 10-20 people) share personal stories with each other in connection to pre-defined topics (such as how participants handled difficult situations in their life or relationship problems, how they coped with growing up, how they handled difficulties related to certain professions). Participants discuss these stories in small groups of 3 or 4, which is followed by a whole group discussion. The group is led by senior volunteers, who are trained in this method and who have personal experiences to share in the pre-defined themes.
Applied methods, techniques
Advantages of the programme
For senior volunteer group leaders:
For young volunteer group leaders:
For other participants:
The programme has a strong capacity to build communities, to develop bonds between the group members.
News, materials related to the programme can be found here (in Hungarian): http://www.kepesalapitvany.hu/hiacuterek/category/aladdin
If you know organisations or private persons who would be interested in trying out this method, please contact us:
In the framework of the Aaddin programme senior volunteers help to develop a wide range of skills of young adults through the method of stortytelling.
Members of the storytelling group (one such group involves about 10-20 people) share personal stories with each other in connection to pre-defined topics (such as how participants handled difficult situations in their life or relationship problems, how they coped with growing up, how they handled difficulties related to certain professions). Participants discuss these stories in small groups of 3 or 4, which is followed by a whole group discussion. The group is led by senior volunteers, who are trained in this method and who have personal experiences to share in the pre-defined themes.
Applied methods, techniques
- personal storytelling
- ice-breakers, energizers
- introductory activities to develop empathic skills and practice active listening skills
- other selected methods (e.g. presentation and discussion of fairy tales, art therapy methods)
Advantages of the programme
For senior volunteer group leaders:
- the feeling that their life experience can be shared with and can be built on by the younger generations; the increase of their self-esteem
- practicing the storytelling method
- developing creativity, problem-solving skills
- developing leadership skills
For young volunteer group leaders:
- this is an opportunity to gain experience (by practising leading groups, using storytelling methods or other methods, e.g. art therapy techniques)
- developing creativity, problem-solving skills
- developing leadership skills
For other participants:
- the realisation that they are not alone with their problems
- the experience of being paid attention to, being listened to, being taken seriously
- the opportunity to hear the stories of people who already had to go through and deal with problems that they are now struggling with; and the opportunity to draw their own conclusions from these stories
The programme has a strong capacity to build communities, to develop bonds between the group members.
News, materials related to the programme can be found here (in Hungarian): http://www.kepesalapitvany.hu/hiacuterek/category/aladdin
If you know organisations or private persons who would be interested in trying out this method, please contact us: