Youth By Youth: A Digital Storytelling Project

In February 2011 United Way began collaborating with the University of Calgary to run a digital storytelling project with youth in our community. The purpose of the project was to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and strengths of youth, by having them author their own stories about experiences of importance to them. The creation process brought together youth with diverse backgrounds and experiences to reflect on and share their stories.

Over the course of 1 week, participants worked together in choosing the story to tell, writing a script, recording a narrative and selecting the pictures and music that helped represent their experience. Participants created 9 powerful stories that are being shared in the community in different ways. A key theme that emerged from each story was about the resilience and strength of youth in Calgary in the light of the significant challenges they often face.

Here are some of the impactful stories that were created by participants!

Deng’s Story

Elysia and Chad’s Story

Deng came to Canada from the Sudan, a country deeply affected by poverty and insecurity. While Canada represents a new start for Deng, he also feels the loss of his mother, who died in Sudan. He wishes he still had her guidance and support, as he continues his journey in life and thinks about what kind of father he will be. He shares his story to shed light on the many hardships youth face in this city and the strength it takes to overcome such challenges.

For most, family is where we feel the safest. It is a place of warmth and security. For some, they aren’t as lucky to have a family.
Elysia struggled growing up without a mother. She came from a very different famly situation than Chad, who always felt lucky to have a big and caring family. Chad and Elysia are now starting a family of their own. Their story presents a new chapter of their life together and how one youth’s resiliency led to the creation of her own family

Jen and Keera’s Story

Toni and Thu’s Story

Jen and Keera wanted to tell a story. A story about the very different education experiences they had growing up.
For Jen, she felt that school was a place to conform. For Keera, her classroom was the streets and it was her experiences of living on the streets that taught her how to survive. Together, they represent different sides of what education means to them

When Toni and Thu first met to create their story, they thought they had nothing in common, given their different life experiences and backgrounds. Over the course of the project, they realized that they both went through hardships and managed to overcome real struggles in their life; they realized how similar they really were.
The theme of their story is ‘survival.’
*Thu would like to thank her brother for his unwavering comittment and support. She would not be where she is today without him