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Heros Journey

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08/03/2018

The Project "The Hero's Journey" was a KA1 Training Course targeting 30 youth leaders, youth workers, educators, active volunteers and staff members of our partner organizations. The training took place in Brussels (Belgium) from December 8th to December 16th 2017 and involved a total of 15 different partners from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Italy, Galicia/Spain, Poland, Romania, Egypt, Portugal, Kosovo*, FYROM/Macedonia, UK and Ukraine. The main objective of the project was to develop and promote a new positive narrative of inclusion, giving the chance to young Europeans and young migrants to meet and share their stories (their journeys) in order to match them with the needs of the communities they live in. In order to explore these topics, the training was built upon Campbell's concept of "The Hero's Journey" and his approach of the Mono-Myth, Archetypes and the Journey. "No matter in what point of the cycle you might be or feel to be, you are all Heroes and/or Heroes-to-be... no doubt of it! We stand for the no-doubt, for the trust, strongly believe, agree, understand, care, safe environment, human touch, togetherness..."

The main output of the project are collected in an online platform that brings together the different dimensions of the activities implemented (traditional storytelling, video-storytelling, interactive digital storytelling and educational activities): https://yeuherosjourney.wixsite.com/herosjourney

Below, you can find the thoughts and impressions of one of the heroines who took part in the project.

Lilly Hos (IUS - UA):

Imagine the place where heroes from all over the world gather to share their superpowers. Brussels became such a place, where young people from 15 countries came together at the beginning of December to address the issue of migration and refugees through the power of storytelling. At the event “Hero’s Journey”, we had the possibiltiy to work on a concept of life-cycle which all heroes experience in their lives.

As young people, coming from diverse backgrounds, in terms of cultures, languages, experience and interests, we were united by the power of storytelling. With the use of the its' methodology, may that be digital storytelling, interactive digital storytelling and renforced by educational sessions, all participants had the chance to combine their strengths and knowledge to create something completely new.

Reaching to the end of the process, the results included a series of narratives tackling the lifes of migrants and refugees. First, 5 emotional stories which were presented by inspirational storytellers, then a digital story of a young refugee -product of the digital storytelling group and last “The Long Journey” created by the interactive digital storytelling group.

8 days full of interaction and hard work helped us to develop personally and as a team. Through the power of NFE and storytelling, we developed a number of skills such as writing, critical thinking, public speaking, digital competences and much more. Moreover, what this Journey offered is that we all understood that desire to change something and hard work can pay off.

A hero is not a mystical personality from movies or books, but each and everyone of us can be a hero.

Giulia Annibaletti

YEU Project Manager

YEU AO