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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Through Her Lens: Cameras For Girls with Amina Mohamed – Co-Created

On this episode of Co-Created we're joined by Amina Mohamed, the Founder and Executive Director of Cameras For Girls, to talk about what happens when a founder story becomes a digital story and why that format can reveal the “three-dimensional” truth you can’t always reach in a talk, a webinar, or a standard nonprofit promo.Amina takes us from her family’s refugee journey from Uganda to Canada, through years in film and television, and back to Uganda where she meets young women facing limits on education and opportunity. From that turning point, Cameras For Girls grows into a practical pathway into media careers, combining photography training, ethical storytelling, business skills, and the gift of a camera with the real goal: helping young women enter male-dominated media spaces and land fair paid jobs in places like Uganda and Tanzania.Episode Key MessagesAmina’s origin story from Uganda to Canada and back againWhy Cameras for Girls focuses on fair paid jobsTeaching photography, business skills, and ethical storytellingRejecting extractive storytelling and top-down developmentTurning a “why” into a three-minute digital storyEditing surprises and choosing images responsiblyUsing a founder video for donors, funding, and social mediaEncouraging participants to tell their own stories in their own voiceOther Links MentionedRead this episode's blog postWatch Amina's digital storyLearn more about Cameras For GirlsAbout Our GuestAmina Mohamed is the Founder and Executive Director of Cameras For Girls, a Canadian charity she launched in 2018 to address gender inequality in Africa’s male-dominated media industry. Born in Uganda, Amina came to Canada as a refugee after her family was exiled under the regime of Idi Amin. Growing up between cultures, she discovered photography as a powerful way to express herself when words failed. That early experience shaped the vision behind Cameras For Girls: creating opportunities for young women across Africa to find their voice through visual storytelling.Through a year-long training program combining photography, ethical storytelling, and business skills, Cameras For Girls equips young women with the tools, training, and mentorship needed to build sustainable careers in media. Participants receive professional cameras, hands-on instruction, and ongoing career support designed to help them enter and succeed in the workforce. To date, the organization has trained nearly 200 women through in-person programs across East Africa and has reached more than 2,000 additional participants through its Online Learning Hub. Amina is also a leading advocate for ethical storytelling, challenging outdated and colonial narratives often present in international media. Her work emphasizes dignity-centered storytelling that honours the lived experiences of the women and communities whose stories are shared. Her leadership and impact have earned international recognition. Amina has spoken at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Summit, been featured in publications including Vogue, and received the Estée Lauder Beautiful Forces Grant in recognition of her work advancing women’s leadership.Today, Amina continues to expand Cameras For Girls’ programs across Africa while advocating for gender equality, ethical media practices, and new pathways for women to build sustainable careers in storytelling and journalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. Through Her Lens: Cameras For Girls with Amina Mohamed 24:36
2. Double the Magic: Storytelling for Healing and Impact with Melody Williamson 31:57
3. When Science Meets Story: Lessons from a PhD Defense with Becky McCall 35:57
4. Health Promoting Experiences of Storytellers: A Meta-Synthesis 49:36
5. Isolation to Impact: DST in Cancer Care with Jackdaw Bones 25:57

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