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Where have you seen the power of storytelling in your social impact work?
This could be a story that you heard, or told yourself.
Think about:
What made this story so memorable for you?
What did you feel, emotionally, when you heard this story?
What did this story compel you to do, if anything, that might have been more than you would normally do?
Share this story and how it made you feel with your peers. Then, read about the other amazing stories that your peers have experienced, and respond to at least one of their posts.
Example: “A story I found really powerful was ________. It made me feel _______ ."
A story i found really powerful was the story of a child street hawker. iI felt pity and compassion and wanted to help give her a better future.
@FolukemiIkhalea ,thanks for your answer..
good story. it was part of marketing or not??
A story that i found really impactful was story about that Mouse and kid. It's really touching because show the feel and bonding from a child to his mom. And how thing can be really meningful because has the story behind.
What made this so memorable for me is that a bond will never broken, it made me feel as if i am the one in the story after i read the story, this story did compel me to do good thing and believe in miracle and good luck.
The story is very impressive and motivating. It made me feel touched. He thought very much about his future.
A story I found powerful was the story of an NGO that empowers vulnerable women. It made me feel empathy and i'd like to support that organisation by volunteering.
@SyifaSalsabilah24 ,thank you for your answer.
@andishanti ,thanks for sharing your point of view with us.
@Cantikaoktaviana30_ ,its amazing to realize how a story can positively impact a person.
@emediong1 ,thanks for sharing your powerful story with us.
I'm interested in the way that individuals and small groups use storytelling in crowdfunding appeals. One story in particular that moved me to action was that of a Black midwife who was struggling against significant obstacles to open a birth center to serve BIPOC clients in San Diego, CA. I came across this campaign in June of 2020, during the period when Black Lives Matter uprisings were taking place all over the United States. Although I did not have any direct connection to the person behind the campaign, as a mother who benefitted from midwifery care at a birth center, and as a person who was intensely aware of the larger issues of white supremacy, including it's impact on birth outcomes and maternal death rates in the Black American community, the narrative created an instant emotional connection and offered me a way to take direct and meaningful action. Again, I was looking at the campaign from a research perspective, but I was so compelled by the storytelling itself that I was moved to make a significant donation.
@CEArnold ,thanks for sharing your powerful story with us.
I found a story about a company that provide prosthetic arms and legs for amputees to be able to function normally. i found that this has enabled them be more confident in life and feel normal and thereby they can go on to accomplish their dreams and aspirations.
This invoked in the the emotion of possibility. That anything is possible.
Hi @FolukemiIkhalea , thanks for sharing your story! What emotion did this story evoke from you and why? What was in this story that you will consider when sharing your own stories?
Hi @asriantya , thanks for sharing your story! What emotion did this story evoke from you and why? What was in this story that you will consider when sharing your own stories?
Hi @SyifaSalsabilah24 , thanks for sharing your story! What emotion did this story evoke from you and why? What was in this story that you will consider when sharing your own stories?
Hi @andishanti ,thanks for sharing. Though still trying to figure out the story you actually shared.
Hi @Cantikaoktaviana30_ , Thanks for sharing ! Though haven't gone through your story. Could you possibly share it with us.
@roliwilkey ,thanks for sharing this powerful story with us.
Very interesting! But a story i found really powerful is the mouse. It made me feel enganged.
@Tsope ,thanks for sharing your answer with us.
A story I found really powerful was about the hard work behind someone's work, they really strive to produce the best results for the audience and they are able to get through even the toughest challenges. It made me feel motivated to do extraordinary things because in fact we are all human beings and have our own strengths and as long as we try we can reach our dreams.
@afinasazkia ,thanks for sharing your point of view with us.
a story i found really powerful was the video i make for a church on how they find the poor in their community every day of the week, the its really resonate with me on social welfares of the vulnerable.
@edoosasco ,thanks for sharing your powerful story with us.
A story I found really powerful was a story I wrote on the effectiveness of shared responsibilities in the home that resonates gender equality and in turn alleviate poverty in the rural populace of my country. It made me feel a sense of satisfaction.
A story that I found very strong was Avrora: Water Voice. It made me feel dumbfounded. so far I have not been too interested in stories that contain elements of fantasy, but Avrora made me so interested because the contents of the story, the plot given made a lot of feelings raging. don't forget they provide a very amazing video trailer.
A story I found really powerful was the story of TED MCGRATH, how he move from penury to becoming a great business man simply by telling his story,it make me feel that there is a way out for me too, if I can narrate my story well.
A good story that will draw in more prospects.
@doug_diave ,thanks for sharing the anecdotes of your powerful story.
@MariewenttyCR ,the visuals in the trailer are powerful.
@Njik ,you're right about this.
@Njik ,thanks for sharing a summary of your powerful story.
The story made understand you let go of the things you love but in a distance you still wish you are close to the person, the story gives a big illustration how story can make two more closer no matter the matter.
@Emmayorkson said in Module 1 Discussion: The Power of Stories:
The story made understand you let go of the things you love but in a distance you still wish you are close to the person, the story gives a big illustration how story can make two more closer no matter the matter.
@Emmayorkson ,thanks for your response.
A story I found really powerful was about companies that employ people with disabilities. I found that this can change people’s bad perception about people with disabilities and learn that there are thing people witch disabilities can do but we normal people cannot. This invoked in the emotion of possibility, that anything is possible.
A story I found really powerful was that of a 97year old great - grandmother that went to see her 78year old daughter at the hospital. On seeing her mother, a 78year old grandmother in the presence of her grandchildren got emotional and started crying for her mum. Her mum hugged her and reassured her with the words, "it's okay baby". Her age did not sever her attachment to her mum. It made me desire to be a matriarch hence my commitment to bettering health systems to cater for elderlies.
A story I found really powerful was that of a 97year old great - grandmother that went to see her 78year old daughter at the hospital. On seeing her mother, a 78year old grandmother in the presence of her grandchildren got emotional and started crying for her mum. Her mum hugged her and reassured her with the words, "it's okay baby". Her age did not sever her attachment to her mum. It made me desire to be a matriarch hence my commitment to bettering health systems to cater for elderlies.
@IdorenyinAndem ,this story pulled at my heartstrings.It's sweet & powerful at the same time.
@angelahalim ,thanks for this powerful & inspiring story.
I appreciate your feedback. I tear up whenever I remember/share this story.
I worked in a non-profit for a year in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Program. One of the projects we undertook was called Food Loss & Waste. We traveled to a metropolitan to collect data on the subject from restaurant owners. After exiting one of the restaurants we saw two young boys aged 7 and 9 salvaging food from the trash cans placed right outside the restaurant, containing food discarded by the restaurant. The kids managed to collect two medium sized shopping bags worth of food but it made me tear up because the restaurant owner could have just donated the food to them instead of letting them rummage through and scrape the trash cans. They were humans not animals and better treatment should be meted out to humans, right? While taking a picture of those two boys, tears welled up in my eyes and ironically the kids replied to my tears with their best smiles.
That is such a moving story and a worthwhile cause. I hope it moves more people to action.
That is such a moving story and a worthwhile cause. I hope it moves more people to action.
@IdorenyinAndem ,I also commend you for expressing your opinion on our course discussion forum.
@Ridabaloch ,your story is powerful because food is a basic need yet some people barely have any access to it.This is really sad.
@Ridabaloch ,it's truly powerful..
The story I found powerful is the story of a teenage mum struggling to make ends-meet on the streets of the political capital of Cameroon. I felt empathy for her as she will street hawk with a baby on her back under the scorching sun and I will like to support her in my own little way.
I heard the story of a boy who had his father walk out on them. The lad had to grow with been bullied and jeered in school. Growing up alone was challenging as he had to battle with low self esteem and emotional crises. Years later i heard the young man grew to become an exceptional Man. A great father and husband. He was the envy of all the men in his clique. He became better and not worse. He changed his story. Though when i first heard the story i was angry at the father for walking a way but am happy that the son turned his story around.
When she was little, she lived in a violent home. He remembers that his father repeatedly beat his mother and she ran to hide under his bed to see if the monster would become "human" again. With the passing of time, the girl with the straight hair and the big eyes grew and also with her, her heart became hard as a shield to what her big eyes saw. Until after more than 30 years, a surprise box arrived at her house, and she, without knowing what was inside, opened it with fear. Suddenly, hundreds of stars flew out and began to locate in places that hurt her, all these years, thus healing and illuminating her mind, body and heart and reviving again to forgive the past, her family and herself. From this moment her Movement and social cause called EN CASA (AT HOME) was born, where everything begins, because she understood that a better world begins at home and above all, and no matter what happens, it begins deep in her heart. Marcela ospina
@Fedrine_effande ,thanks for sharing such a relatable yet powerful story with us all.
@denedo83 ,thank you for sharing this powerful and inspiring story with us.
@marcelaospinamusica ,you've written this beautifully.Thank you sharing such a powerful story with us.
@marcelaospinamusica ,you've written this beautifully.Thank you sharing such a powerful story with us.
@marcelaospinamusica ,you've written this beautifully.Thank you sharing such a powerful story with us.
a story I found powerful is fascinating and it is emotionally moving
emotionally moving and extraordinarily moving
The story I found really powerful was one single mother she tried to inquiry about what kind of health challenges she will face if she donated her kidney to someone. In realistic, she was taking care of 3 children with self-employing during COVID19 Period. She was working as tailor but due to the COVID19 impacts, she became jobless and she sold all of her sewing machines for her family survival, then she decided to donate her one kidney to someone who is suffering disease and patient will return some amount of financial assistant to this single mother for her future.
That story made me feel sorry and would like to help the vulnerable people who struggle during the COVID19 period.
@TheinTunHlaing ,the story you're sharing with us is truly powerful.Thank you for it.
My sisterly friend has been help some financial support and sharing the experiences of surviving with life time after donating the kidney. After few month we did not have contact with this lady. I believe, COVID19 impacts is really huge on vulnerable people within developing countries.
@TheinTunHlaing ,you're so right. Covid-19 has negatively impacted so many people in the developing world and beyond.
A story I found really powerful was a story about a coffee shop that employs people with disabilities as waiters. It made me feel perfection belongs only to God, with stories like that change many people's perceptions of the meaning of life, because limitations are not our reasons to stop exploring life, precisely with these limitations strengthen us in facing the world.
It's a great story, and make other people more alive
This is an enlightening story, thank you for sharing.
@Aiman001 ,this story is powerful because the disabled were given a change to earn a living.A million blessings to this cafe that gave them a chance to work.
@Aiman001 ,you're so right about this.
@KelvinMwangi ,it really is enlightening!!!
One significant story that has been dear to my heart is one told by a Christan broadcasting network. Her main aim was to help poor African communities get access to basic amenities like food, water and even shelter. The stories, as well as the impact of previous work done was so emotional. Most families had basic needs meet and were all happy. I couldn't help but donate for such great cause
@Ekojonwa ,its a joy to realise that a powerful story you watched on television inspired you to make a donation.
A story I found incredible was Hannah Gadsby's. She talked about being gay in Tasmania a few decades ago. She made me laugh, cry, feel anger, relief and finally understand that humor against minorities is not humor, it's discrimination. She made me want to fight agaisnt all kind of discrimination. She's an incredible storyteller.
That's for me the biggest power of stories, the ones that not only inspire you but switch a light on within you and make you move, step into action, believing you can do it too !
@ourhealthtales ,thank you for sharing Hannah Gadsby's story with us all.
@ourhealthtales ,like you've said;her story is very inspiring...
The story I found empowering is about a girl who was bullied because of her weight when she was young. People calling her name with an extra "fat" behind her real name. A few years later, she got that body goals as people told her to. Yet, people assumed she went through "fat suction". Then her mom told the other moms about the process when she locked herself in her room because she was unhappy with her body. Her family encourage her to get a diet program which suit her body typical. Since then, her friends started to give positive comments on her instagram after knowing the story spread out through mouth-to-mouth. Personally, I also can not forget the story she went through to achieve her goal. We absolutely should not judge people's story through our eyes only. Anything is possible when you have courage and supports.
A story I found really powerful was the story of the Founder of Coscharis Motors. It made me feel happy. The story compelled me to work harder no matter the situation i find myself. .
A story I found really powerful recently was that of an ex-hunter who now is a “keeper of the wild,” a reserve guardian. This man, Uriel, used to spend much of his time in the forest, hunting all types of wildlife. He was always struggling to make ends meet, to keep his family happy and healthy. Now that the area has been established as an environmental preserve, Uriel, whose home is very near the reserve, was made a part of the team and it became clear that there was no one better at spotting wildlife than him. Even when a new mammal was unknown to science, the cute furry Procyon known as the Olinguito, Uriel knew everything about it— where it lived, what it ate, how many offspring it had and how often. Uriel is now able to support his family on the salary of being a park guard, he’s able to see the forest he loves so much flourish, he’s even authored scientific papers describing new species as a “para-scientist.” He’s transformed from a predator of the cloud forest to one of it’s greatest protectors.
@janellekaz ,thank you for sharing Uriel's story of empowerment & transformation.
@Anjanette_kevin ,this story is powerful because body shaming is becoming a big problem.Beauty must not be defined by the opinion others.
A story i found really powerful was that of a rural community that didn't have a single school, it made me feel really bad because they had to work long miles to a community that had to trek everyday under the scorching sun and rain.
@Jaybetah ,your story is powerful and sad at the same time because access to education by school going children in rural areas is often hindered by the long distances that that they walk to and from school.I strongly believe that this issue also leads to irregular school attendance,
A story that is very powerful to me is about a single father with a daughter who lives in poverty. The father work as a pedicab driver or you can say as a public transportation like bicycle with three wheels and a seat in front, with a very little income because nowadays people use private vehicle. Both of them lived simple lives and happy lives until one day the daughter of this pedicab driver finishes her bachelor's degree and become a cum laude graduate student. With pleasure and pride the father hug the daughter and cry together as they received the award and degree. Later on as the father ride together with the daughter back home in the pedicab, the daughter said to her father that she is thankful of everything, every bit that her father have given to her entire life in any situation and of course the love and the faith of both of them as a little family in poverty. Time flies, now the father retired and the daughter is living her life and fulfill her father's live together. Such a powerful story that tells us not to give up quickly, to trust and to love each other.
Such a powerful story with a powerful meaning.
Such a powerful story, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this powerful and great story.
@Nyoman ,this story is really powerful and inspiring at the same time.Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you for sharing this story. This is a good one, it warms my heart while reading it because it makes me realize that humanity still exists.
A story I found really powerful was given at a training about mental illness. It was about the person's struggles with their mental illness told by a high school student. It made me feel sad but also hopeful because she overcame her illness and has learned to live with it since then.
Wow what an inspiring and amazing story!
@jwlangdon ,thank you for sharing this inspiring & powerful story with us all.
In Nigeria, while I was travelling to Enugu, I met this beggar at the motor park, normally, I don't really engage with them, but because of the way he dressed I had to ask him why he resorted to this, he went ahead to tell me how he graduated with a first class degree at the famous university of Nsukka, on his way to work one day he goy run over by a vehicle, that damaged one of his legs, after spending so much in treating with no result, the doctor informed him that they have to amputate the leg, during that process he lost his Job and spent all the money he had in treating himself and people refuse to hire him because he is now handicapped, he raised his trousers to show me his artificial leg, and concluded by telling me that it was the reason he had no choice than to beg, I have never given any beggar in my life more than 500 naira but that day I gave that man 5,000 naira, his story really stayed in my heart throughout my journey to Enugu, will never forget his story.
@kevinross222 ,this is one painful yet powerful story.I also commend you for your heart of gold for giving 500 Naira to this person you're telling us about.Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thank you sir
I was attending a conference in Medellin Colombia and I asked if I could go meet some of the women who were struggling with displacement due to guerrilla activity in the rural areas. I was taken to a very upmarket shopping center - the last place I expected to find such women, and there I met a woman who told me that that she had one child, a twenty year old boy who she loved very much. One day he told her he was going to the corner store to buy a Coke. She never saw him again. He disappeared. Every night she puts a candle in the window, in case he comes home. After fifteen years, she still hopes against hope. In the meantime she has started working with other mothers of "desaparecidos" and together they make dolls that represent their lost children. It's a way of making a living, and a way of remembering them. Her story touched me so much because of the way she lives with loss, and an unfinished story. We can all learn from the grace with which these women live - carrying on, supporting one another and never losing hope. Her story was a powerful encouragement for me to learn to deal with the losses, great and small, that we all experience.
Agreed, Mario is magic, and a wonderful souvenir of the mother.
@Binka001 ,thanks for sharing such a painful yet powerful story with us.
@kevinross222 ,you're very welcome.