Experiential Learning Paper No. 5
January 2011
This paper is the record of an international workshop which was held in Derry in September 2010 on the evaluation of storytelling as a peace-building methodology. This was an important and timely initiative because currently there is no generally agreed method of evaluating storytelling despite the significant sums of money invested in it, not least by the EU PEACE Programmes. It was in fact PEACE III funding that enabled this examination of the issue to take place. This support allowed us to match international experts in evaluation with experts in storytelling in a residential setting over two days. This mix proved incredibly rich and produced this report, which we believe is a substantial contribution to the field. It is an example of the reflective practice which is at the heart of IPC’s integrated approach to peace-building and INCORE’s focus on linking research with peace-building practice. Built on this and other initiatives, one of IPC’s specific aims is to create a series of papers that reflect the issues which are being dealt with by practitioners.
Contents:
Foreword 4
Introduction 5
Presentations, Interviews and Discussions 13
Final Plenary Discussion 52
Conclusions:
a. What we have learned about storytelling 65
b. What we have learned about the evaluation of storytelling 69
c. What next? 73
Appendix 1: Reflection Notes from Small
Discussion Groups 75
Appendix 2: How does storytelling work in violently divided societies? Questioning the link between storytelling and peace-building 112
Appendix 3: Workshop Programme 116
Appendix 4: Speaker Biographies 118
Appendix 5: Storytelling & Peace-building References and Resources 122
PS: Ken Bush has passed on this message:
Please find attached an updated copy of the Storytelling and Peacebuilding BIBLIOGRAPHY. Inclusion of web addresses makes it particularly useful.
