Weaving Our Narratives 2023: Explore the Power of your Story

A Creative Leadership course

29 August - 22 September 2023

Weaving Our Narratives (WON) is a one-month online course developed by the Creative Leadership team, focused on the theme of sharing stories.

Inspired by the Initiatives of Change practice of sharing impactful life experiences, referred to as a ‘human library’, we aim to equip every individual with the power and opportunity to connect to the core of their story, and have their voice heard.

The programme will be guided by the overall journey of rooting, reframing and rising.

VISION

To inspire inner transformation and authentic liberation through genuine connection and sharing — one story at a time.

MISSION

To co-create a space that is safe enough for rethinking the different narratives we hold about ourselves and the world, thereby encouraging self-discovery and co-existence.

OBJECTIVES

To co-create a guide with participants on storytelling based on a wide range of techniques.
To build a diverse community of storytellers and create partnerships.
To create a space for feedback.
To offer guided self-reflection activities.
To establish common rules and guidelines with experienced facilitators.
To encourage and embody vulnerability, starting with the team members.

workshop group interaction conversation meeting

GENERAL STRUCTURE

The structure of each session will follow a set pattern, with every session being split into two one-hour sections, designed to model storytelling, before giving the opportunity to explore one’s inner world.

FIRST HOUR

Input - The stories, direction and activities we are providing
Check in – A space for everyone to check-in and share how they are feeling before the group begins.
Story – To set the tone, one of us shares a story at the beginning related to the day’s theme
Activity – A combination of teaching and an activity designed to enhance our understanding of the given theme.

SECOND HOUR

Output - The space for participants to share and reflect their own stories
Reflection – Take quiet time to prepare an answer or story to a set question or theme relating to the given theme and activity.
Sharing – A space for all participants to come together in small, guided groups to openly share their personal stories based on the topics provided in the reflection space.
Tools - Tools are shared after each session to allow participants to continue their personal journey of reflection both during and beyond the course.

AUDIENCE

People from various backgrounds who want to explore their personal histories and hone their storytelling abilities.
People who are enthusiastic about using storytelling to encourage empathy, comprehension, and constructive change.
People who are eager to connect with and form a community with other storytellers.
We will be inviting up to 40 participants.

DATES

The course will have eight sessions, two per week on Tuesdays and Fridays at the time of 18:00 - 20:00 CET:

Tuesday - 29 August - Reconnecting with self
Friday - 1 September - The river of life
Tuesday - 5 September - Moving beyond barriers
Friday - 8 September - Courage and vulnerability
Tuesday - 12 September - Re-imagining responsibility
Friday - 15 September - Re-writing narratives
Tuesday - 19 September - Authenticity and liberation
Friday - 22 September - Going forth

COST

The course will have a cost of CHF 25. This can be refunded at the latest one week before the course begins. Due to the diverse nature of people attending IofC, if individuals have issues with paying this cost please email us directly at CreativeLeadership@Cauxforum.org

This cost includes a digital certificate on successful completion of the course.

Subthemes	Short Statement
Reconnecting with Self	We will begin the story-sharing journey by exploring the various aspects of our own identity. Participants will be invited to tune into themselves and begin to question who they are, unfurling the many layers often covering what lies at the core. This will form the foundation for understanding and sharing our stories.
The River of Life	The theme of identity will be taken further by considering the major events of their lives, creating an expressive artwork showing the ‘river’ of their life. Through this, participants become acquainted with the major aspects of themselves, reflecting and discovering their own journey.
Moving beyond barriers	This session signals the beginning of the transition process to changing how we view ourselves and our own stories. By taking pictures of our immediate surroundings, we can learn to re-conceptualise and see our lives in a different light. Instead of focusing on changing the situation, we aim to change our perception to see a path forward.
Courage and Vulnerability	In this session, we take the next courageous step forward in the process of becoming our authentic selves. By giving ourselves the space to be vulnerable, seeking to overcome shame and the fear of judgement, we allow ourselves total freedom to express our individual emotions and sense of self.
Reimagining Responsibility	We transition from viewing our lives as a product of others’ intervention to the ownership of our story. By seeking to take responsibility for our path forward, overcoming any victimhood mindset, we realise we have a role in our own stories, not playing mere bystanders. By considering the choices we have already made, we inform the question ‘who could I be?’
Rewriting Narratives	After looking at who we were, who we are now, and who we could be, we empower ourselves to re-write our own narratives. Participants realise the freedom they always possessed to choose the stories and personas they wish to embody, enabling them to craft compelling and alternative stories and possibilities.
Authenticity and Liberation	As we enter the rising stage of the process, having developed confidence and self-knowledge through engaging with the transformative process, participants will be closer to expressing their authentic selves truthfully, reclaiming agency over their own narratives. “People who are truly authentic are not afraid to be themselves.”
Going Forth	As the course comes to a close, participants celebrate the journey they have come on as well as the friendships formed and the personal growth gained. We look hopefully toward the future, honouring the stories they have shared and heard, and reflecting on how they want to carry their stories into the world.