Storytelling Beyond Words Diversity Bursary Fund
Swati Gautam from India received the scholarship in 2023. Hear her share something about her experience...
Storytelling Beyond Words is a three-month, residential immersion programme, training people to work with the art and craft of the oral storytelling tradition. During their time with us, participants create projects that carry the spoken word and a lively imagination into their communities and places of work. At the heart of the course is the question of the role of storytelling in navigating the challenges that we face in the world today.
Our community of students is made up of a broad mix of nationalities and ages - from people in their 20’s stepping into adulthood, to elders in their 70’s and 80’s. They come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, experiences, occupations and roles. We see the maintaining and expanding of this diversity of perspective as an essential component of the learning experience.
On the programme we seek to strengthen loving relationships with the world around us through oral storytelling. Participants bring the issues that are alive for them and are encouraged to explore them artistically and creatively, drawing on inspiration from diverse wisdom traditions. Many of the graduates go on to offer performances, events, conversation spaces and cultural initiatives back in their countries.
Elsa Canedo Valdes from Mexico received the scholarship in 2024
We have created a bursary fund for the course to enable the training to be accessible for people from a wider range of economic backgrounds. Over the last three years we have managed to offer one full tuition bursary every year and several partial bursaries, thanks to generous donations.
This year we are fundraising for Three full tuition bursaries. They will be given after a selection process to the most suitable person with priority based on:
Financial necessity – income based, underprivileged / disadvantaged background, demonstration of current community involvement to which you wish to bring the storytelling work to.
If you are reading this and are in a position to donate to the bursary fund please do so using this page and accept our heartfelt thanks.
Your donation will enable us to welcome more people to this work and help us guarantee the cultural, geographical and financial diversity of participants on the programme.
With gratitude, the Storytelling Beyond Words team.
