Stories are everywhere. Every day, in the shop, on Facebook, people are sharing facts about their lives. Digital storytelling is a contemporary way to edit and share stories.
A digital welcome project for refugees
In Europe, the presence of refugees is a reality. While some European governments are against their presence, many citizens are opening their houses and hearts for them, inviting them to have a dinner, cook a meal together, or simply provide shelter. The Digital Welcome project aims to enhance social cohesion through volunteering and digital storytelling.
Media literacy and digital inclusion
During our project, refugees will improve their ICT, language and pedagogical skills. After the training, they will volunteer to share their recently acquired knowledge to other people (seniors, children, other refugees), build bridges and establish networks in their new country. After the volunteering, they will gather to tell their digital story and reflect on their experience. The goal of the Digital Welcome project is to enhance digital skills and media literacy, and creating empathy among the local population.
Digital storytelling, making unheard voices heard
Digital storytelling is an interesting pathway to provide healing for people in pain, people with trauma. Fleeing the country where you were born in provokes pain, rupture of emotional and cultural ties. Telling and editing a story can free emotions and have a healing effect.
The stories of Maxim, Bintu, Hoshal and Diana are among many examples of this successful technique.
- Diana is stateless and living in Belgium for almost 9 years: https://vimeo.com/86624826
- Hoshal Hotak discovers the word “Thank you“ in Dutch, while he was on a trip in Oostende: https://vimeo.com/114772026
- Bintu fled to Belgium. She tells her story: https://vimeo.com/album/2575488/video/53430541
- Maxim is 23 years old and gives computer courses to children. He fled Syria 2 years ago and came to Beglium. Now he wants to help other people in Belgium: https://vimeo.com/225533058
(Tip: to turn on subtitles, use the CC button below the video).
Veronique de Leener