Holocaust Memorial Day, Made My Wardrobe, VR Impact Fund and more in our Storytelling Highlights

Welcome to our Storytelling Highlights, this where we share what we’ve seen, heard or read about and would like to share with you. A last reminder that we are down to our final 10 tickets for this year’s Social Media Exchange, registration closes on Wednesday at 2pm. Don’t miss out, book now to be partContinue reading "Holocaust Memorial Day, Made My Wardrobe, VR Impact Fund and more in our Storytelling Highlights"

Welcome to our Storytelling Highlights, this where we share what we’ve seen, heard or read about and would like to share with you. A last reminder that we are down to our final 10 tickets for this year’s Social Media Exchange, registration closes on Wednesday at 2pm. Don’t miss out, book now to be part of an inspiring day of digital storytelling and creating new connections. Back to our highlights, you know the drill, put the kettle on, grab a pair of headphones and enjoy.

1. Holocaust Memorial Day
Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day, a day for everyone to stop and think about the millions of lives lost and affected during the holocaust and subsequent genocides. ‘How Can Life Go On’ is a film sharing the story of Bea Green who at the age of eight witnessed the aftermath of the violent public humiliation of her father in Nazi Germany. We love the message conveyed, of tolerance and acceptance of all.

2. Made my Wardrobe
After surviving a sexual assault by armed robbers in her home, Lydia decided to armour herself with clothes made from love. She gave all of her clothes away over the course of 2016 and replaced them with her own designs, ethically made, blogging about her experiences along the way. Lydia was living with PTSD and was struggling, she decided to make her own clothes to ‘dress [herself] with a new set of healing armour’. You can see all of her designs on her Instagram page @mademywardrobe.

3. Expert Citizens Poetry
Expert Citizens is a brilliant organisation that champion firsthand, authentic storytelling to create change around multiple, complex needs. They have released a series of poems on their blog written by Expert Citizens with firsthand experience that put a spotlight on anxiety, and alcoholism. ‘Lost In Mind’ by Kimberley Lea illuminates the feelings and struggles of an anxiety sufferer. You can read ‘A Letter to Alcohol’ on their blog too. We hope to read more from the Expert Citizens, we love the use of poetry as a storytelling device.


4. Zulu, the double-amputee breakdance
This is an incredible story of determination, Zulu is a double-amputee who learnt how to breakdance and wants to use that to inspire others. When he was little more than a year old, he had to have his legs amputated. But his prosthetic legs were damaged in a car accident and he does not want his family, who don’t have much, to pay to replace them. After learning to walk on his hands, Zulu was introduced to breakdancing by a friend. His message to others like him ‘Be stronger than your disability, overcome it’.


5. Virtual Reality Impact Fund
Increasingly we are seeing virtual reality utilised by charities and social campaigns to harness the power of empathy to raise awareness and create change. With the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as their guide, HTC Vive are pledging £10M in funding for developers, creators and VR dreamers to build something new, something that speaks to our humanity and has the potential to change the world. It’s interesting to see where digital storytelling will go next, and how immersive technologies can create change. We can’t wait to hear from VR producer Catherine Allen at the Social Media Exchange.

Do keep us updated with what you think I should be finding out more about.

And if you like what you read – do help us by sharing it and spreading the word

Jude and Helena the sounddelivery team

@sounddelivery

Final Tickets for #SMEX17
Our practical and creative event on Monday 6th February at Resource for London will help give you the skills you need to make a bigger impact online. Join 170 changemakers for an inspiring day of digital storytelling. Tickets are available until next Wednesday 1st Feb at 2pm– don’t miss out

The day features:

  • Interactive workshops focusing on digital storytelling, crowdsourcing content, giving a voice to those you support, VR & immersive storytelling, and using storytelling to crowdfund.
  • Practical sessions in audio storytelling, photography, social video and a variety of social media tools.
  • Lunchtime sessions looking at challenges & opportunities for small charities, making the most of Expert Citizens and 1-1 sessions on a range of topics
  • Lunchtime Lightning Talks with three inspiring speakers reflecting the theme “The Power of Our Stories”.

Find out more information and book a place at www.socialmediaexchange.org.uk

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