Training in using ICTs for advocacy and activism can be difficult when experience and confidence levels vary amongst the participants. Keeping the energy levels up, making sure that everyone is up-to-speed, engaged and following takes a deep focus and an ability to “read” the participants. Technology can be frustrating when it fails us or we miss one critical step in the process. Being a trainer, one needs (among other things) to be empathic and create an environment which encourages participants to ask questions. It is a constant process of learning for both trainers and participants.

But what has struck me during this workshop is how important storytelling is in communicating new knowledge and in explaining concepts. By introducing a new concept or tool with a story, or beginning a new part of the training with a story is powerful. I can see participants sit forward and engage more when Cheekay says - “Let me tell you about.....” or 'OK, here's a story to show you....”
Stories and metaphors can unpack meaning in ways that are profound and simple.
 
Stories are the fabric that knits communities together, they release us into our individual imaginations that is linked to a collective consciousness. It is what social networking does. We sit with our individual thoughts and work responsibilities, isolated geographically but connected via the tools of twitter, facebook, blogs etc etc They aggregate us as individuals into clouds of collective meaning.
 
As we try and develop new knowledge around the intersections of VAW and ICTs, train a cadre of women's rights activists in e-advocacy, knock at the door of policy makers and build a network of advocates, we weave ourselves together through stories. The telling of stories provides space to listen, something which is critical in learning. The diversity of the Take Back the Tech! MDG3 project is incredible, spanning 12 countries on 3 continents and embracing many languages, cultures, identities and experiences. To stitch the differences into a global, coherent action, we tell our stories through blogs, Skype, digital stories, twitter, Facebook, SMS, radio etc
 
Another point which is perhaps obvious but I think often not emphasised enough in training, is localisation. Using local examples rather than global ones brings meaning and authenticity to the training. It is all part of our evolving learning collectively and part of a feminist practice of technology.
 
 
Training in using ICTs for advocacy and activism can be difficult when experience and confidence levels vary amongst the participants. Keeping the energy levels up, making sure that everyone is up-to-speed, engaged and following takes a deep focus and an ability to “read” the participants. Technology can be frustrating when it fails us or we miss one critical step in the process. Being a trainer, one needs (among other things) to be empathic and create an environment which encourages participants to ask questions. It is a constant process of learning for both trainers and participants.

But what has struck me during this workshop is how important storytelling is in communicating new knowledge and in explaining concepts. By introducing a new concept or tool with a story, or beginning a new part of the training with a story is powerful. I can see participants sit forward and engage more when Cheekay says - “Let me tell you about.....” or 'OK, here's a story to show you....”
Stories and metaphors can unpack meaning in ways that are profound and simple.
 
Stories are the fabric that knits communities together, they release us into our individual imaginations that is linked to a collective consciousness. It is what social networking does. We sit with our individual thoughts and work responsibilities, isolated geographically but connected via the tools of twitter, facebook, blogs etc etc They aggregate us as individuals into clouds of collective meaning.
 
As we try and develop new knowledge around the intersections of VAW and ICTs, train a cadre of women's rights activists in e-advocacy, knock at the door of policy makers and build a network of advocates, we weave ourselves together through stories. The telling of stories provides space to listen, something which is critical in learning. The diversity of the Take Back the Tech! MDG3 project is incredible, spanning 12 countries on 3 continents and embracing many languages, cultures, identities and experiences. To stitch the differences into a global, coherent action, we tell our stories through blogs, Skype, digital stories, twitter, Facebook, SMS, radio etc
 
Another point which is perhaps obvious but I think often not emphasised enough in training, is localisation. Using local examples rather than global ones brings meaning and authenticity to the training. It is all part of our evolving learning collectively and part of a feminist practice of technology.