Step 3

The Power of Storytelling

Stories are a compelling way to help people visualise and empathise with migrant experiences.

Why Focus on Stories?

People love stories. Stories connect people, they bring abstract ideas and values to life and help create empathy. By telling stories and listening to individual migrants and people in communities who welcome them, we can emphasise our shared humanity.

How to use storytelling

By telling stories that reflect our shared values, we can more easily connect to our audience and humanise migrants.

This section of the toolbox will help you to:

Understand what
types of stories
to tell

Consider how to avoid stereotypes and emphasize individuals. Use storytelling to reflect your vision and shared values.

Define
who should narrate
the story

Who tells a story is just as important as the story itself. Who is the best narrator for your audience and how can you ensure your stories are inclusive of migrant perspectives?

Identify
what makes a good story

There are so many directions to take in telling a story. What are the basic building blocks of a good story?

Find storytelling
methods and mediums

Consider diverse and exciting mediums for creative storytelling, including music, theatre, podcasts, radio, street art, animation and humour.

Go to the activities

Examples

UN Human Rights Podcast: #StandUp4Migrants

In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4Migrants, we’re examining the power of storytelling with Ali Jehad, a photographer from Sweden, and former refugee from Iraq, and Robin Hammond, founder of 1000 Dreams project, which strives to change existing refugee narratives by telling the stories of 1000 refugees in Europe. Jehad is also a contributing storyteller for 1000 Dreams.

UN Human Rights · Power Of Storytelling

The Afroqueer Podcast

The Afroqueer Podcast produced by None on Record, shares stories of queer Africans from across the continent. The Webby-award winning show includes stories about individuals who have migrated or feel pressure to migrate to escape discrimination related to their queer identity and seek a better life.

Comedians share their own stories of migration in celebration of International Migrants Day.

Fadak Alfayadh and her family came to Australia from Iraq. Her new community welcomed her and her family with open arms and encouragement. Now, she uses the power of her own story to inspire others to embrace newcomers to Australia.

Los Angeles-based musician La Marisoul performs “A Serenade for the Undocumented”, a narration and musical performance sharing the story about Los Jornaleros del Norte, a band made up of former and current day labourers in Los Angeles. This video elevates migrant voices and experiences by blending narrative storytelling, music and illustration.