Leading Change: Using Digital Storytelling to Share Youth Activist Experiences

Submitter and Co-author information

Valerie Alexander, University of WindsorFollow

Keywords

Gender Transformative Education, Youth Activism, Digital Storytelling, Gender Inequality

Type of Proposal

Oral Presentation

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Catherine Vanner

Proposal

Young people are facing the issues of gender inequality and a lack of quality education every day, the Leading Change project aims to give youth activists a platform to tell their stories and to fight gender inequality in education around the world. This project involves 12 youth activists, ages 18 to 25, from Transform Education, a youth-led activism network housed within the United Nations Girls Eduction Initiative (UNGEI) and uses the digital storytelling method to share their unique stories and experiences. These activists are focused on addressing the issues of school-related gender-based violence, girls’ education in emergencies, comprehensive sexuality education, period poverty, STEM gap, gender digital divide, and changing gender norms. Their work is adversely affected by the lack of recognition and respect for youth activists in these fields. However, in working with these 12 activists from around the world, this project has found that their experiences reveal the true issues inside educational institutions and governments as well as inform the changes that need to be made. Through digital storytelling methods, this project brings to life the experiences of young people in the field of gender transformative education, both positive and negative, and shares how they began their advocacy journeys. This method also allows for the option of anonymity and confidentiality to make the project more accessible. Activists’ stories will be shared with policy makers, government leaders, and educational institutions around the world, the information gathered in this project will also be used to better understand the barriers for youth activists in efforts change this dire reality and give young people a seat at the table.

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Leading Change: Using Digital Storytelling to Share Youth Activist Experiences

Young people are facing the issues of gender inequality and a lack of quality education every day, the Leading Change project aims to give youth activists a platform to tell their stories and to fight gender inequality in education around the world. This project involves 12 youth activists, ages 18 to 25, from Transform Education, a youth-led activism network housed within the United Nations Girls Eduction Initiative (UNGEI) and uses the digital storytelling method to share their unique stories and experiences. These activists are focused on addressing the issues of school-related gender-based violence, girls’ education in emergencies, comprehensive sexuality education, period poverty, STEM gap, gender digital divide, and changing gender norms. Their work is adversely affected by the lack of recognition and respect for youth activists in these fields. However, in working with these 12 activists from around the world, this project has found that their experiences reveal the true issues inside educational institutions and governments as well as inform the changes that need to be made. Through digital storytelling methods, this project brings to life the experiences of young people in the field of gender transformative education, both positive and negative, and shares how they began their advocacy journeys. This method also allows for the option of anonymity and confidentiality to make the project more accessible. Activists’ stories will be shared with policy makers, government leaders, and educational institutions around the world, the information gathered in this project will also be used to better understand the barriers for youth activists in efforts change this dire reality and give young people a seat at the table.