Storytelling Videos

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Our Videos

Our Objective

It’s about mindful listening and hearing

Workplace and neighborhood communities face the growing challenges of bringing together diverse people and viewpoints toward cohesive, constructive interactions and outcomes. Often, employees, customers, students, and neighbors struggle to communicate so that they can hear each other. As a result, we miss vital opportunities to build consensus and effectively solve problems together.

Through interactive learning and immersion experiences, students and adults can gain the ability to engage in authentic, mindful communication through the Community Unity Story Exchange.

The Community Unity Video Story Exchange is a TERJA Foundation program that elevates students’ stories by opening a social impact video portal to global visibility, interaction, and engaged connection. The goal – to hear and be heard.

Listening Communication Immersion.

TERJA works with schools and community organizations worldwide through innovative experiential learning that results in authentic communication immersion.

Schools Partner with Schools Around the World

We partner students in the United States with students in other parts of the world, and as students exchange stories, they engage effectively with each other. They gain perspective into themselves, and see into the lives of people in other communities that may be different from their own.

We are a collaborative, inclusive nonprofit

We seek to collaborate with public, charter, and private schools, organizations serving homeless or safe space youth and young adults, organizations serving refugees or special populations, and many more.

We work with you individually or collectively

We can work directly with one teacher, one grade, or facilitate projects for an entire school or organization.

Trained TERJA volunteers facilitate the storytelling process.

Appropriate story topics include the basics, however, the topic possibilities are broad, and guided by the intent to share in a meaningful and constructive way.

Examples include

A day in my life
Someone in my community
My community celebrates…
Challenges we face
Something important that we did or do
Problems we’d like to solve

Why a Story Exchange?

Benefits to Students and the Community

Their creativity flows as they tell and listen to true stories of authentic experiences.
They gain perspective into the lives of people in other communities that may be different from their own
They learn to accept and embrace these different perspectives in order to solve significant problems that make a difference in the community and the world.
They engage with others on a creative path to take social action together to build bridges that connect people in order to prevent and address local, community, and global concerns that impact everyone.
They gain the evidence-based skills needed to effectively communicate and share their stories in a productive, give-and-take
This ability to communicate well, truly listen, and effectively interpret, process, and engage with each other translates to the potential for sustainable development.
They gain transferable psycho-social skills that enhance their lives

What does Facilitation look like?

A collaborative communication and planning process that fits with the educational goals and timeframes of the school, teacher, or organization
Workshops that engage through facilitation and exploration on topics and skills, including documentary photography, mindful communication and interactions
Coaching and Brainstorming with students on possible community topics and projects
Helping students create scripts and storyboards for their videos
Teaching editing and writing skills
Providing support along the way toward a finished film short for the TERJA Community Unity Film Festival
Honoring and Recognizing students at our TERJA Community Unity Story Exchange film festival and Youth Summit, and at our documentary video shorts library

Location

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