Training on digital storytelling in Slovenia

What was the training for?

The aim of the training course was:

• To acquaint youth workers with storytelling as a useful tool in youth work;

   

• To guide youth workers through the preparation and implementation of the digital storytelling training course or workshop by providing them with the necessary knowledge, methods, exercises and techniques;

• To develop youth workers’ competences and motivation to encourage, support and assist NEETs with developing their self-esteem and understanding of themselves; the youth workers learned about valorising young people’s potential through storytelling and to develop their stories with the use of multimedia to enhance their future opportunities and their social inclusion.

How did it go ? 

This training course introduced the methods of Digital Storytelling to the partners over the course of four days. Three of our partners – PiNA, Know and Can, and Associação Mais Cidadania – were in charge of the preparation and implementation of the training, and as part of this preparation a guidebook on the topic of Storytelling was created.

On the first day, Rumyana of Know and Can led two sessions on the basics of storytelling. The partners learned what this art form is, how to create and organise a story, and participated in activities which would then be used as a base from which to build stories. The second day saw our Portuguese storytelling mentor lead a seminar on the ways in which youth workers and NEETs can communicate through stories, and on the use of personal experiences to express yourself and tell your own story.  Participants worked on the expression of memories through drawing, and on the interpretation and recreation of memories from the basis of another person’s work.

The third and fourth days of the training course saw the partners put this new-found knowledge into practice and create their own digital stories. The team from PiNA, being the technological wizards they are, led participants in the use of audio-visual equipment and digital narration tips, and thus the partners were able to create, film and edit short videos. Our masterpieces can be viewed below!

What did the participants think about it ? 

“It was very interesting to learn about storytelling and to know how storytelling can help the NEET's. It was very nice to meet people and to work in group. The mix between practice and theory is very good”.

Emma (PiNa)

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“This TC gave us the possibility to try different storytelling activities, but most importantly it was an opportunity to reflect on how to use storytelling with young people and gave me an idea on how to design the training course on the methodology REAL-E that will be hosted by Replay Network in Italy. We will work with the youngsters in a Youth centre in Rome planning different activities that will guide them towards knowing better themselves and their competences. We plan to approach storytelling in a step by step approach that will support youngsters also to become more confident and find their own way to describe their experiences and learnings”.

Elena-Gabriela David (Replay Network)