Storytelling of LGBTIQ+ youth (2019-2020)

The project was carried out by a group of LGBTIQ+ youth as part of the European Solidarity Corps solidarity project. Through the implementation of the storytelling project, the group of young individuals aimed to acquire skills in storytelling methodology and learn strategies for creating a safer space. On the other hand, young LGBTIQ+ individuals who have experienced peer violence wanted to empower themselves to confront traumatic experiences and use their own experiences in storytelling. The project used storytelling as a method to raise awareness among the broader population, especially young people, about the issue of peer violence based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Under the guidance of experienced mentors in the fields of storytelling, psychosocial support, and peer violence issues, two training sessions were conducted for the group of young individuals: one for using storytelling methodology and another for creating a safer space and providing support to young people.

After completing the training in August 2019 in Rakov Škocjan, the project group organized a four-day training with storytelling workshops for young LGBTIQ+ individuals who had experienced peer violence. During the workshops, young individuals became familiar with storytelling, including alternative forms of storytelling, and used it as a tool to express their own experiences with peer violence based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, as well as other experiences as LGBTIQ+ individuals.

The result of the project was the formation of a group of young LGBTIQ+ individuals who were trained to share their experiences with peer violence with young people in schools and youth centers throughout Slovenia. Additionally, as part of the project, video recordings of these narratives were created, serving as educational material and for the purpose of raising awareness about the topic.