Leading Through Stories: Crafting a Movement with Uganda’s Digital Storytellers

The transformative power of digital storytelling is beautifully showcased in the latest podcast episode titled “Crafting a Movement with Uganda’s Digital Storytellers.” In this captivating episode, we step into the vibrant world of East Africa, where they are harnessing the art of digital narratives to advocate for gender equality. The episode features conversation following the North American premiere of “A Shared Dream,” a poignant documentary that illuminates the process of digital storytelling as a tool to address gender dynamics in their communities.

Our guests, Barbara Naggayi and Mutatina Robens, provide an intimate look at the cultural complexities faced by storytellers and their efforts to find and amplify their voices. Their stories, which transcend personal journeys, serve as beacons of hope and instruments of change. These narratives challenge societal norms and spark vital conversations that pave the way for empowerment and gender parity.

Listeners are treated to the inspiring tale of Nancy, whose digital story, Determined to Succeed, narrative from the demonstrates the unifying power of a single story. The episode delves into the role of digital storytelling in engaging audiences at both the community and national levels. By bridging the gap between abstract concepts and lived experiences, digital stories become powerful messengers that resonate with people from all walks of life.

Furthermore, the podcast examines the impact of storytelling on initiatives such as Healthy Adolescents and Young People. It highlights the effectiveness of digital narratives in translating the voices of youth into compelling messages that capture the attention of stakeholders. Education settings, too, benefit from the authenticity and connection fostered by shared experiences.

The conversation flows into the technical aspects of storytelling, exploring the use of metaphors, visuals, and the importance of the storyteller’s presence during screenings. A particularly moving account describes how a digital story focusing on maternal and child health became a community engagement tool in Uganda, showcasing the versatility and extensive reach of storytelling as a medium for education and transformation.

It’s evident that digital storytelling in Uganda has evolved into a collective effort, with facilitators like Robens and Barbara employing a team-based approach that leverages their unique strengths to craft and share impactful narratives. As the episode concludes, there is a call to action for listeners to engage further with the storytelling initiatives. The dedication to the craft of digital storytelling and the improvement of facilitation techniques is emphasized as a collaborative journey.

In summary, this podcast episode is not merely a collection of stories but a testament to the power of digital narratives in fostering change and advancing gender equality in Uganda. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in storytelling, gender equality, and the potential of digital media to inspire action and alter the global narrative.

About the Documentary

Beginning in 2017, Common Language DST created a strong partnership with Mbarara Institute of Science and Technology in Southwestern Uganda and the University of Calgary Department of Indigenous, Local, & Global Health in the Cummings School of Medicine. Working together they have developed a unique model of digital storytelling facilitation for use in the East African context which involves a team-based approach with each facilitator specializing in a specific phase of the  process. This documentary highlights this unique facilitation model and demonstrates how digital stories can stimulate compelling conversations about global health topics and in doing so, help encourage the women and girls of East Africa to pursue their dreams.

About Our Guests

Barbara Naggayi is a lecturer in the Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty at Mbarara University of Science and Technology focusing on Environment and Sustainability. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the same discipline and uses her extensive presentation and facilitation skills as a Digital Story sharing expert with the Ugandan DST Facilitation team. Barbara has been involved in other consulting capacities throughout the DST process and has a strong focus on developing and maintaining ethical DST practice in the many unique contexts of the Ugandan setting.

Mutatina Robens is the DST focal person at Healthy Child Uganda where he has worked for the past 6 years while pursuing his Masters degree in Business Development. As well as being a skilled DST editor, Mutatina is responsible for coordinating all the DST work with Healthy Child Uganda including contacting and vetting potential participants, introducing them to the other DST team members, and generally providing continuity throughout the DST creation and sharing process. The stories Mutatina has facilitated have been shared to thousands of community members across Uganda to advance child, maternal, and adolescent health.

About Leading Through Stories

Everyone has a story to tell—and what we do with that story can create lasting impact. Every episode, Leading Through Stories, helps unravel the how and why of digital storytelling with host Kristy Wolfe.

Life is made up of meaningful moments—which ones do you want to share?

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Isolation to Impact: DST in Cancer Care – Co-Created

One gesture can keep a patient in care. That’s the charge running through our conversation with Jack Bones, a transgender cancer survivor whose digital story takes us from a tense biopsy room to a stage where an audience of clinicians wiped away tears and leaned into hard, necessary dialogue. We walk through how a politicized identity collided with late-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma, how bias nearly closed a door, and how a single act of compassion reopened it.Episode Key Messages• the craft of digital storytelling as patient advocacy• bias in clinical encounters and its real-world risks• the technician’s gesture that restored safety and trust• workshop process from script to screening• reactions at the BC Cancer Summit and productive dialogue• reaching missing audiences in shame and stigma work• plans to use film and allegory for future stories• the ocean moment as a metaphor for freedom• how stories support training, orientation and culture changeOther Links MentionedRead this episode's blog postWatch Jack's digital storyJack created their digital story in a BC Cancer workshop facilitated by Krystle SchofieldCheck out Jack's work, Brassthorn ArtAbout Our GuestJackdaw Bones describes them self as an "eremite" and occasionally ventures out of their home in the woods to show the shiny things they've made, in true covid style.They've been a practising artist ever since their youth, using the lenses of cameras and inks to explore ideas of self, relationships to the natural world, and the terror/joy of living.Jack is a dropout from an art school that has since disappeared to make way for training industrial workers, though they consider their experiences with disastrous experiments over the years their most valuable teacher. They revel in the beautiful chaos of learning from other artists, from books, other artists, and fucking up. The process is where the joy lay for them, and indeed that joy is built into the foundation of every piece they make.They are disabled, and a cancer survivor. They have worked hard over the years to get to the level where they can produce art without sacrificing their health, so while their pieces may not be perfect, the imperfection belies the passion, determination, joy, and gratitude they feel when practising. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. Isolation to Impact: DST in Cancer Care 25:57
2. The Storyteller’s Yellow Pages 33:23
3. Neurodevelopment, Advocacy & Heart Families 01:06:11
4. Shame, Story, & Healing in Medicine 47:38
5. Resilience Stories in Vet Education 24:22

Common Language DST facilitator trainings are open for registration.
Learn more here.