Advocacy & Storytelling

“I’m writing my story so that others might see fragments of themselves.”
- Lena Waithe

The stories that speak the most to readers are those that evoke a sense of hope, a sense of curiosity, excitement or even despair, because within these feelings are where we find that we are not alone, and that we experience the world through a set of common emotions. A story that is able to create a sense of empathy, or give the reader a sense of oneness through characters or situations are powerful, because they draw on a collective consciousness through representations of cultures, identities and the seemingly mundane events of daily life. 

When young readers read about a character that represents their culture, their struggles, their identity - or even just their skin colour, they’re brought into a world where they feel less alone, and are assured that there are people out there, like them, navigating the world and all its mountains and valleys. 

Stories are powerful tools to share moral beliefs, call out injustices and start dialogues on the functioning of the world we live in. In fact, some of the most effective stories in bringing awareness about social issues have been those that were told through the eyes of a child - Scout, in To Kill a Mockingbird  by Harper Lee, shared her observations with us about a racially unequal world, and how the adults in her small town couldn’t see past skin colour to uphold justice. Or even Harry Potter, raised as an orphan, growing up feeling excluded and different, only to find that his talents were different and special. These stories have helped countless people navigate the complexity of our reality, encourage introspection about one’s own stance and morality and confront social issues. 

Children & students should be encouraged to write about their lives and their experiences, because their perspective is distinct and sheds light on certain mechanisms of the world that are often overlooked by adults. By bringing their voices into the conversation about discussions on topics such as race, identity, discrimination and even bullying, we only widen the toolkit available to all to understand these issues more holistically.