Changemaking across borders.

storytelling workshops

We trained 72 refugees, migrants, and locals how to tell their stories and that their stories are worth telling in four Storytelling Journey workshops, two in Amsterdam, one in the Hague, and one farm retreat in Hoogmade. The Hague was a special edition continued from last year’s collaboration with our partner Shah Tabibi from the Shah of Holland. Amsterdam workshop was kindly supported by De Ceuvel and one in the Hague by the Hague Youth Factory.

We also hosted a workshop for tourism and heritage students at Wageningen University and one in collaboration with International Association for Intercultural Education and WE organisation at the Anne Frank House, our workshop ''Building Resilience & Connecting People'' trained 20 educators, activists and changemakers in a series of inward- and outward-looking approaches and methods of identity de/construction within the wider context of resurgence of popular nationalism throughout Europe and how to create a more cohesive society.

We hosted two ChangemakerXchange summits - see below.

conferences

Shah, Ingi and Oldoez attended the FutureBuilders training for youth workers and facilitaters in Poland. Ingi presented Pocket Stories at the annual Youth to Youth conference in Sweden, attended ChangemakerXchange Train-the-Trainers in Philippines and the EUtopia diversity trianin in Kosovo and Latvia, while Meghann presented Roots Guide International Congress on Cultural Mapping in Portugal.

roots guide

We entered the second year with Roots Guide and welcomed a new core team member Dr. Meghann Ormond as our curator. She will help us transform Roots Guide into a travel guidebook. We did XX photos and interview and secured a partnership with DutchCulture and applied for a grant with National Geographic Society.

Roots Guide has empowered over 100 people in this process to self-reflect on their role and personal connection to migration.

We hosted our first Roots Guide community event in Utrecht we invited our contributors to meet for the first and and co-create how Roots Guide will become.

We hosted the annual Christmas party at our beloved neighbour Esmoreit.

testimonials

“[The main value of the workshop for me was the] gentle, intelligent and well-orchestrated support to help me look within, remember and recognise the value of my experiences and perspectives, and connect deeply with others through peer coaching”.

“I opened a door to another world. I finally feel encouraged to start writing and I am no longer afraid of not doing well enough.”

“The atmosphere was perfect and safe, diversity was respected and I felt home”

• Storytelling Journey participants
  

179

Storytellers & changemakers

ChangemakerXchange

Pocket Stories was the official partner for two ChangemakerXchange summits, which is co-created by Ashoka and the Robert Bosch Foundation.

Amsterdam: Cultural Diversity and Dialogue

As the local host of the Amsterdam summit where we welcomed 20 young intercultural innovators and leaders from Europe, Middle East and North Africa who work on the topic Cultural Diversity and Dialogue. They spent six days together to connect, learn and collaborate across borders. We explored new ways to genuinely connect in a time where we are told that is easier to stay in our in-group than collaborate with those who we perceive are different. Now more than ever, we need dialogue that celebrate diversity across all communities for more inclusive and peaceful future.

The first three days were spent in Amsterdam with the Opening Night at Impact Hub Amsterdam, before spending the next two days at the historical and inspiring Anne Frank House delving into our personal stories, intercultural ventures, and history.

This special summit was hosted Safarni - Intercultural Children's Workshop, Pocket Stories and International Association for Intercultural Education.

PAris: rural communities

The second summit was held in Paris and focusing on social entrepreneurs in rural communities which are often forgotten in our globalised and urban world. The increasing migration to urban areas such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris leads to decrease in services, opportunities, and hope in the rural communities across Europe. Pocket Stories wholeheartedly believes that diversity makes us stronger, yet rural voices are often under-represented. We are therefore honoured to be part of organising and facilitating the first ChangemakerXchange focusing on positive impact in rural communities.

We spent five days at a beautiful French castle with 15 young innovators from across Europe to share our stories and experiences, as well as find new ways to include and strengthen rural communities across borders.

This special summit was hosted Bridge for Billions, ImpactAimers, Youthnest, and Pocket Stories.