Storytelling for youth work: a tool for connection and understanding in changing times

Background We applied for the project, because we perceived the need to enhance youth workers capacity and methodological possibilities to reach out to young people and create meaningful connections. The project consortium was aware of the powerful effects of storytelling, that we wanted to adapt to the field of youth work. Central to business, politics, science and arts, storytelling plays a distinct role in the non-profit sector, where stories are used to introduce important causes to funders, beneficiaries, employees and volunteers; create awareness; change hearts and minds; and lead to meaningful action. Most importantly, for the purposes of our project, storytelling can be used to attract, engage, inform, support, inspire, connect with and empower young people in the context of youth work. The COVID-19 crisis impacted young people and ther wellbeing very negatively. In times of distancing and more solitude in the society, we perceived the need to create meaningful and value driven connections, especially for and with young people. Objectives The project aimed to promote and enhance quality youth work and to develop high-quality educational and practical materials for youth workers. Storytelling for Youth Work aimed to strengthen the connection of youth workers with young people via the positive effects of storytelling, by adapting the storytelling methodology to suit the field of youth work. The project aimed to address the needs of youth and support their well-being, their development and their growth; empowering them to connect to each other and whoever they need, lead healthy and conscious lives and have good interpersonal relationships even when more effort is needed. Times of uncertainty and crisis demonstrated for us how important it is to be connected and how security is oftentimes reliant on the well-being of the whole community. The project Storytelling for youth work aimed to contribute to the priorities of Erasmus+ related to promoting engaging, connecting and empowering young people. The goal of the project was to do that through the adaptation and implementation of the storytelling methodology for the field of youth work; specifically through the capacity-building of youth workers by providing relevant and usable techniques and strategies. Implementation During the project timeframe, from October 2020 to July 2022, three Intellectual Outputs – multimedia guide, boardgame and dissemination course – were developed, aimed at youth workers and created to increase their capacity, support their work and encourage deep, active and effective communication with their target groups. In addition, several multiplier events were organised in Austria, Slovenia, Greece and Bulgaria in order to present and disseminate the project outcomes to young people, youth workers, multipliers and the local communities. In January 2022 a 3-day joint staff training took place in Austria, where 10 youth workers from the partner countries gathered to work together on the further development of the project "Storytelling for Youth Work", to learn from each other and to exchange good practices and expertise in the context of international youth work. In addition to online work meetings the consortium organised two transnational project meetings - September 2021 in Belgrad, Serbia and June 2022 in Athens,Greece. Achievements The Storytelling Multimedia Guide (available in 6 languages) gives youth workers theoretical information, practical skills and specific strategies for implementing storytelling in their work with young people. The Multimedia Guide consists of a Handbook and various multimedia products – podcasts, videos, interviews, etc., which guide the readers into the art and work of storytelling in youth work – online or offline. The Storytelling Board Game has the goal of provoking thoughts, conversations and debate around important topics, with young people. It can be played for fun, or used in trainings and educational settings with young people as an educational tool and a tool for fostering connection, empathy, and deep understanding of specific topics. The dissemination course (available in 6 languages) is aimed for civil society organisations and youth workers and includes 5 chapters on how to attract and retain their audience through the means of storytelling. The course provides information, instructions and examples on the role of stories in communication and dissemination activities. All project outputs as well as an interactive forum for youth workers is available on the project website: www.storytelling-youth.eu