Last year, we launched the Inclusive Communication Guide. We see ethical, inclusive and equal communication as essential for creating a more just world. With this guide we offer international cooperation organisations in the Netherlands and abroad feedback and tools to become aware of and contribute to this. One of the principles we discussed is the need for Participatory Storytelling. In this session, we’ll dive deeper into this subject.

What is Participatory Storytelling?

Participatory storytelling is the most effective strategy in pursuing ethical, inclusive and equitable communication. Participatory storytelling refers to a range of different ways to include the people who the story is about, both in the production and representation. This also means that, instead of ‘parachuting’ in (foreign) crews and ambassadors, NGOs should collaborate with crews and communities involved to create engaging content encouraging solidarity, equality and equity.

Participatory storytelling is based on co-creation and other forms of collaboration and is, as such, part of the wider process of shifting the power in international cooperation. Make sure that the stories you tell are also stories the people the story is about want to tell. They should have agency and ownership over the stories and images made with and by (not about) them.

Registrations through the Partos website.