Amplifying Voices: Crafting Authentic Storytelling Guidelines

September 2024

In this entry, Sirazul Islam, Community Engagement Coordinator at the European Network on Statelessness (ENS) reflects on the co-creative process of developing guidelines for empowering stateless storytelling. NB: This blog was originally published on the ENS website, and has been reproduced with permission.

In a world where countless stories go unheard, reinterpreted or misconstrued, it is vital that marginalised communities can share their narratives authentically and safely. Recently, our community embarked on an inspiring journey to co-create storytelling guidelines, specifically tailored for individuals with lived experiences of statelessness. These guidelines are a powerful tool designed to foster equality, empower voices, and allow community members to take control of their storytelling.

The Genesis of our Storytelling Guidelines

ENS’s 2023 Annual General Meeting and Conference in Madrid provided a unique opportunity to bring community members together in person. Although members were used to seeing each other online during ENS’ monthly community meetings, this was the first time many had met in person. During a session on storytelling, members from various communities shared their experiences and insights. I spoke about how storytelling had been used to motivate and inspire Rohingya youths and how it served as a tool to raise awareness.

The workshop included discussions on the need for participatory storytelling, where stateless people tell their own stories. This approach would be complemented by training on storytelling and discussions on comfort zones, ensuring the process is as important as the product. The consensus in the room was the necessity for a co-designed approach, allowing individuals full control over their narratives.

This event marked the beginning of a collaborative effort. ENS subsequently worked closely with its members, including Apatride Network and StateFree, to carry out consultations and further insights. This collaborative effort laid the foundation for the storytelling guidelines.

The importance of listening is at the forefront of the ENS’ Community Speaker policy, co-designed by ENS community members.  ENS heard its community members' concerns about not being treated fairly, highlighting the need for measures to ensure organisations respect our boundaries regarding speaking opportunities. The launch of the speaker policy guidelines was a significant step, but it became clear that more work was needed to achieve true equality.

The Role of Storytelling

Storytelling for individuals with lived experience goes beyond merely recounting an experience. It is about authentically controlling one’s narrative to drive change and create a better future. It is a means of influencing a space dominated by inequality. It allows us to shed light on the systemic issues that perpetuate our plight and inspire action. Therefore, the storytelling process must be handled with care to ensure it empowers rather than exploits.

As someone with lived experience, I often feel uncertain about how to respond when asked to share my story. My reactions vary, usually depending on how tired I feel on the day. Sometimes, I comply and recount the story of a refugee boy who was born in a camp and now speaks English, frequently met with comments like, "Oh, you speak really good English!". I remember one particular instance of being interviewed by a journalist who did not provide the questions beforehand and insisted on portraying my story through a lens of victimhood, when I wanted to highlight the resilience of my community. However, my wishes were ignored. Other times, I am more determined to ensure my story and those of my community are presented authentically. This is the experience of countless individuals with lived experiences, evidencing the crucial need for guidelines to develop a space where individuals like me do not have to struggle between sharing our stories or not.

Identifying Key Challenges

When ENS collaborated with its community members to discuss the complexities involved in storytelling work, several key challenges reemerged:

1. Control Over Stories: Community members emphasised the need for people with lived experience to have control over their stories. This includes the right to review and approve how their narratives are used before publication.
2. Clear Communication: There was a demand for transparent and honest communication throughout the process. This involves providing upfront information about an interview’s purpose; how stories will be used and ensuring interviewees are fully informed to avoid misunderstandings. This ensures that the interviewee’s expectations align with the final narrative portrayal, where a failure to clarify these aspects can lead to misrepresentation of narratives.
3. Prevention of Misuse: Concerns were raised about the potential for stories to be misused or misrepresented. It was crucial to establish clear guidelines to safeguard against negative or inaccurate portrayals of their experience.

ENS responded to these challenges with dedication and sensitivity. As part of this group, I found it refreshing to see our needs being met and our voices heard. When done authentically, storytelling can effect real change.

Implementing the Guidelines

The storytelling guidelines are practical tools designed to be implemented across various storytelling formats, from podcasts and videos to public speaking engagements and media interviews. Here’s how the guideline principles will be put into practice:

1. Training Sessions: ENS is developing training sessions to build storytelling skills. These sessions will cover working with the media and understanding how to adapt to different mediums. The aim is to equip individuals with the tools they need to tell their stories effectively and confidently.
2. Concise Guidelines: ENS has developed a concise set of guidelines which cover essential aspects such as setting boundaries, understanding the context of the storytelling medium, and knowing your rights as a storyteller. You can find them here.
3. Ongoing Review: These guidelines are under constant review. Co-created with community members, ENS will continually gather feedback and refine the guidelines where necessary. This participatory approach ensures the guidelines are responding to the actual needs of the community. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions will be scheduled to keep the guidelines up to date.

Key Components of the Guidelines

The storytelling guidelines encompass several crucial components:

1. Ethics and Consent: Ensuring that storytellers fully understand the purpose of the storytelling and give informed consent before participating.
2. Respecting Boundaries: Outlining how storytellers can set boundaries regarding what they are comfortable sharing and ensuring these boundaries are respected.
3. Transparency: Establishing clear communication channels between storytellers and those collecting their stories, including providing questions in advance and allowing for review and approval of the final narrative.
4. Remuneration: Addressing the importance of compensating storytellers for their time and contributions, recognising the value of their stories.
5. Outcome Focused: Ensuring that the storytelling has a clear purpose and contributes to advocacy and change, rather than merely serving as a token gesture.

Moving Forward

As we move forward, our goal is to foster an environment where stateless individuals can share their narratives with dignity and impact. By adhering to these guidelines, we aim to amplify the voices of stateless individuals in a way that is respectful, empowering, and transformative.

Whether you are a storyteller, changemaker, advocate, researcher, or journalist, we all play a part in creating a world where every story is told with integrity and respect.

If you would like to use the guidelines in your work, feel free to contact us directly. Let's work together to ensure that every story contributes to a more just future for all.

_{Image by Zac Ong on Unsplash}