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Youth engagement

Changing the Story was driven by a belief that, for social change to be truly transformational, young people must be central to making the decisions that affect them. We supported this vision by creating as many high-quality opportunities as possible for young people to develop their skills, confidence and experiences, so that they feel equipped as young changemakers to tackle the challenges ahead.

Changing the Story and our global community worked with children and young people from all walks of life. As a global practice-research network it included 38 universities in 17 countries, students have inevitably been part of CTS’ fabric from the start. A few examples of this collaborative activity include:

    • In Kosovo our project has worked in collaboration with Erasmus + to bring together students from the University of Pristina and Bournemouth University to explore cross-community peacebuilding.
    • In South Africa, two young artists from the University of Cape Town organised a symposium alongside a youth subcommittee on the ImaginingOtherwise research project.
    • In Colombia, four social work students from Universidad Claretiana were trained on project aspects of monitoring and evaluation and systematization of data to support Cuál es la verdad? research activities.

Student engagement
What was unique about the student engagement programmes that run across our network was an understanding that the students involved are so much more than students; they are activists, artists, youth leaders, NGO founders, researchers and community members who have often had first-hand experience of the issues and solutions that we are trying to understand and uncover.

This recognition of the multi-dimensionality of what makes up a ‘young person’ means that, through our programmes, we could challenge the traditional student-researcher relationship and, as a result, co-create new spaces for young people to shape the narratives which define them, both within our own projects and beyond.

Youth Research Board
The Youth Research Board is a group of eleven young researchers from Colombia, Venezuela, Rwanda, South Africa, Kosovo, Nepal and India. The role of the research board was to evaluate the overall Changing the Story project and to identify what they see as the key issues emerging from the projects.


Using the archive

You can use the search box or click the links in the author, categories or tags fields to immediately filter the content, (this can be repeated multiple times). Select the link in the title column to see more information about that resource including the ability to watch, preview and download the content. See below for a selection of resources from the archive highlighting material relating to the Youth Research Board and the Young Changemakers.

TitleSummaryAuthorCategoriesTagsdoc_categories_hfilterdoc_tags_hfilter
Thyspunt: Khoisan HeritageBlog (2020/03/30) Thyspunt: Khoisan Heritage, , , , phase2 south-africa changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Learning to shoot – videography masterclass for the Changing the Story Team, KohimaBlog (2019/10/14) Learning to shoot – videography masterclass for the Changing the Story Team, Kohima, , , , india phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Sharing India’s Hidden HistoryBlog (2018/02/13) Sharing India’s Hidden HistoryAbhishek Indrekar, , india changemakers locationblog language-english
Meet AntoniaMeet Antonia, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Colombia., , , colombia changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-spanish
PUBLICATION LAUNCH! Changing the Story: Our Third YearBlog (2021/05/21) PUBLICATION LAUNCH! Changing the Story: Our Third YearAisha Kayani, , , , , , , , , , cambodia colombia india kosovo phase2 south-africa changemakers locationblog language-english subject-covid19 subject-participatory-arts youth
#CTSFilmScreening: Participatory Arts for Health ImprovementBlog (2020/01/23) #CTSFilmScreening: Participatory Arts for Health Improvement, , , , event india phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english
Case Study: A State of Mental Wellbeing Through ArtBlog (2020/08/11) Case Study: A State of Mental Wellbeing Through Art, , , , india phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-wellbeing
The youth just want their voice to be heard: PAR in LebanonBlog (2018/11/14) The youth just want their voice to be heard: PAR in LebanonMazen Kobrosly, , , lebanon changemakers locationblog language-english youth
Interview with a young changemaker (Binga, Zimbabwe)Interview with a young changemaker (Binga, Zimbabwe), , , , changemakers youth-research-board zimbabwe locationfilm language-english subject-street-art
What are the benefits of integrating young people in peacebuilding processes in communities and schools?Blog (2019/11/15) What are the benefits of integrating young people in peacebuilding processes in communities and schools?, , , , , phase1 rwanda changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections youth
The Africa Green Collar Project: Young Africans Supporting SustainabilityBlog (2018/01/17) The Africa Green Collar Project: Young Africans Supporting SustainabilityChurchill Omondi Agutu, Oderick Ilunga, changemakersblog language-english
Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba Film TakeoverBlog (2020/03/19) Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba Film TakeoverIlizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba, , , event phase2 south-africa changemakers location
Journey of Self Discovery, Taahirah HoosainSkill Exchange workshops to develop skills that would be useful to young change-makers, March - April 2022Taahirah Hoosain, , , , , event south-africa changemakers locationfilm language-english subject-wellbeing youth
Meet JaydenMeet Jayden, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Cape Town, South Africa., , , south-africa changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-spanish
The Changemakers in film summit post event reflectionsBlog (2021/08/06) The Changemakers in film summit post event reflectionsJacqueline Adjei, , changemakersblog language-english subject-reflections
#CTStakeover: Mapping Community Heritage with Young People in rural South AfricaBlog (2020/01/03) #CTStakeover: Mapping Community Heritage with Young People in rural South Africa, , , phase2 southern-africa changemakers locationblog language-english
Graffiti Art (Zimbabwe)'Street Art to Promote Representation and Epistemic Justice among Marginalized Rural Zimbabwean Youth' is a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project. This is one of several films documenting the …, , , , , , phase2 changemakers zimbabwe locationfilm sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-street-art youth
The planet of no memoryThis fanzine is created by the Youth Research Board's Preserving Memory Group composed by: David, Antonia, Trina and Leonard. It comes as a product of art research on projects supported …Antonia Bello, David Espitia, Leonard Nyiringabo, Trina Hoti, , , , colombia kosovo rwanda youth-research-board locationformat-zine language-english
The Anlong Veng Peace Tours, Cambodia, Khmer Rouge HistoryOn April 18, twelve trainee teachers, including students from Takeo province and three from the local area, themselves children of former Khmer Rouge, participated in the tour. Preparing for the …, , , , , , , , cambodia event phase1 changemakers locationfilm language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-5-gender subject-peace
Examining the Interpretation of Civic National Values made by young people in NepalBlog (2019/10/01) Examining the Interpretation of Civic National Values made by young people in NepalSamjhana Balami, , , , , kenya nepal phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english youth
A Cry For Change, Tahn-Dee MatthewsSkill Exchange workshops to develop skills that would be useful to young change-makers, March - April 2022Tahn-Dee Matthews, , event changemakersfilm language-english
Youth Research Board final reflectionsThe Youth Research Board are fundamental to Changing the Story. Their contribution to the project is remarkable, therefore it is only right that they get to say a few final …Antonia Bello, Arlinda, David Espitia, Eric Ngabonziza, Jayden, Jesús Campos, Leonard, Rovithono, Samjhana Balami, Taahirah Hoosain, Trina Hoti, , , , youth-research-boardarticle language-english language-spanish subject-participatory-arts youth
Umucuranzi documentary, Ntwali PacificSkill Exchange workshops to develop skills that would be useful to young change-makers, March - April 2022Ntwali Pacific, , , event rwanda changemakers locationfilm language-english
#CTStakeover : Participatory Arts for Health Improvement in IndiaBlog (2020/01/03) #CTStakeover : Participatory Arts for Health Improvement in India, , , , event india phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english
University of Leeds PRAXIS Empowering Young People Digital SinglesPRAXIS, changemakersreport language-english
Through Art, theatre and Dialogue, young people are able to express their thoughts to the countryUzabintwari project at Rwamagana Youth center "YEGO CENTER" We are using Art, theatre and Dialogue, for bring back heroism! let the elders guide the young so the raise wisely! and …Eric Ngabonziza, Leonard, , rwanda youth-research-board locationfilm language-kinyarwanda
Graffiti art in progress'Street Art to Promote Representation and Epistemic Justice among Marginalized Rural Zimbabwean Youth' is a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project. This is one of several films documenting the …, , , , , , phase2 changemakers zimbabwe locationfilm sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-street-art youth
Changemakers in Film Summit: Exploring Social Advocacy through a Youth Defined LensRecording of Changing the Story's first online event in the Changemakers in Film Summit series 2021, 'Exploring Social Advocacy through a Youth Defined Lens'. The event features panellists Tahn-Dee Matthews …Angel David Hurtado Orozco, Emilie Clark, Jacqueline Adjei, Junaid Oliephant, Libi Sears, Megan Valentine, Tahn-Dee Matthews, , , , event changemakersfilm language-english subject-wellbeing youth
Carrington's Graffiti Art'Street Art to Promote Representation and Epistemic Justice among Marginalized Rural Zimbabwean Youth' focuses on rural Binga, a significantly underdeveloped rural district located in Matabeleland North in Zimbabwe. The area is …, , , , , , phase2 changemakers zimbabwe locationfilm sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-street-art youth
El Juego del Encuentro (Longing to Return)Watch the graduation film ‘El Juego del Encuentro’ (Longing to Return) from Angel Hurtado, visual artist on the ‘Building Trust for Truth-telling among Former Child Soldiers’ project. Angel was also …Angel Hurtado, changemakersfilm subject-participatory-arts
Um Pouco de Tudo, Talvez / A Little of Everything, PerhapsBlog (2018/03/16) Um Pouco de Tudo, Talvez / A Little of Everything, Perhaps, , brazil changemakers locationblog language-english
Meet LeonardMeet Leonard, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Rwanda., , , rwanda changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-english
#CTStakeover: Izazov (Bosnia and Herzegovina)Blog (2020/01/03) #CTStakeover: Izazov (Bosnia and Herzegovina), , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english youth
All About the Skills ExchangeReflections on the Skills Exchange series of workshops, March-April 2022.Helene Rousseau, , event changemakersarticle youth
'Your Story to Tell'In September 2021, Changing the Story hosted a week-long work placement for a young person through the Arts Emergency Work Placement programme. Over the course of the week, Rachel engagement …Rachel, , , event praxis changemakerslanguage-english subject-participatory-arts
YRB Campaign for Change Launch EventThe Changing the Story Youth Research Board officially launched their campaigns for change, informed by their research findings, in an online event on Thursday 9 December 2021. Watch the recording …, , , event youth-research-boardfilm language-english language-spanish
Enabling reflection amongst young social entrepreneurs in MalaysiaBlog (2020/07/31) Enabling reflection amongst young social entrepreneurs in MalaysiaDr Andreana Drencheva, , , , malaysia phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Changemakers in Film Summit: Health is WealthRecording of Changing the Story's second online event in the Changemakers in Film Summit series 2021, 'Health is Wealth: Revisiting the influence of Arts organisations in helping the youth in …Achabu Kire, Martin Keat, Prof Ananda Breed, , , event changemakersfilm subject-wellbeing youth
Peace in a Small Scale'Peace in a Small Scale: Colombia and the Social Imagination of the Future' by Alejandro Castillejo-Cuéllar and with the research assistance of Alex Sierra. This paper was presented as part …Prof Alejandro Castillejo-Cuéllar, , , , colombia event phase1 changemakers locationfilm language-english
Changing the Story: Youth Research BoardThis video introduces the work of the Youth Research Board and their contribution to the final Changing the Story event, , , , , event united-kingdom youth-research-board locationfilm language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
Lights, Camera, Action: Raising Youth Voice Through VideoBlog (2019/09/26) Lights, Camera, Action: Raising Youth Voice Through VideoImogen Davies, , changemakersblog language-english youth
Izazov Case StudyIzazov is a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project which aims to build the capacity of young change-makers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to further connect with youth civil …, , , , , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina changemakers locationlanguage-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts youth
Leonard (Youth Research Board)Hear from Leonard about his group's research project as part of his role on Changing the Story Youth Research Board., , , rwanda changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-english
Meet Eric!Eric is from Kigali in Rwanda. Find out from Eric what three words he would use to describe his experience as part of the Changing the Story Youth Research Board …Eric Ngabonziza, , , rwanda youth-research-board locationfilm language-english subject-reflections
Color Up Peace: Photos and Coloring Pages for PeaceBlog (2021/03/19) Color Up Peace: Photos and Coloring Pages for Peace, , , changemakersblog language-english subject-reflections youth
Playwriting for Peace: Actualizing Perpetual Peace in Post-Conflict Pristina, KosovoBlog (2019/08/05) Playwriting for Peace: Actualizing Perpetual Peace in Post-Conflict Pristina, KosovoEmily Russell, Matt Harmon, , , kosovo changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Meet JesúsJesús is from San Isidro, Venezuela. Hear from Jesús about his work with children and young people in his community and what quote inspires Jesús most. With English subtitlesJesús Campos, , , venezuela changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-spanish
The landscape of social enterprises in Malaysia: Involvement of young peopleBlog (2020/01/29) The landscape of social enterprises in Malaysia: Involvement of young peopleJian Li Yew, , , , , malaysia phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections youth
Izazov Filmmakers: On being young in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBlog (2019/11/26) Izazov Filmmakers: On being young in Bosnia and HerzegovinaDr Tiffany Fairey, , , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections youth
A reflection on the graffiti training workshop held at BaTonga Museum, Binga.Blog (2019/09/12) A reflection on the graffiti training workshop held at BaTonga Museum, Binga.Willard Muntanga, , , , , , event phase2 changemakers zimbabwe locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
Colombia FilmInterviews with visual artists about creation of animations recording stories of former child soldiers in Colombia.Angel David Hurtado Orozco, David Espitia, Juliana Cueller, Megan Valentine, Nicolas Ocampo, Victoria Huan Zhu, , , , colombia changemakers locationfilm language-english subject-reflections youth
Mobilising Histories: ReflectionsBlog (2018/08/16) Mobilising Histories: Reflections, , , , phase1 south-africa changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Meet EricMeet Eric Ngabonziza, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Rwanda.Eric Ngabonziza, rwanda youth-research-board locationfilm
Meet TaahirahTaahirah is 18 years old and from Cape Town South Africa. In this video Taahirah tells us more about her interests, inspirations and social engagement,, , , south-africa changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-english
Filmmakers from The Kohima Institute: Our Changing the Story journeyBlog (2019/12/19) Filmmakers from The Kohima Institute: Our Changing the Story journey, , , india changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Meet TaahirahMeet Taahirah, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Cape Town, South Africa., , , south-africa changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-english
A reflection on the ‘understanding of safeguarding’ regional safeguarding webinarBlog (2020/06/01) A reflection on the ‘understanding of safeguarding’ regional safeguarding webinarSusan Kathaya, , , , , event safeguarding changemakersblog language-english subject-covid19 subject-policy
The Allegory of the FenceBlog (2019/10/31) The Allegory of the FencePrudence Nkomo, , , , phase2 south-africa changemakers locationblog language-english youth
Amplificando las Voces Case Study 1Blog (2022/03/15) Amplificando las Voces Case Study 1, , , phase2 changemakersblog language-english subject-reflections
Syria: How sport can change the storyBlog (2019/01/15) Syria: How sport can change the storyNour Al Tarsha, , , syria changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Interview with a young changemaker (Zimbabwe)Interview with a young changemaker (Binga, Zimbabwe), , , , changemakers youth-research-board zimbabwe locationfilm language-english subject-street-art
Examining the Interpretations of Civic National Values made by young people in Nepal: A youth perspectiveBlog (2019/10/01) Examining the Interpretations of Civic National Values made by young people in Nepal: A youth perspectiveSamjhana Balami, , , , , kenya nepal phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
My Story – Moiz KhanBlog (2018/07/04) My Story – Moiz KhanMoiz Khan, , pakistan changemakers locationblog language-english
Meet SamjhanaMeet Samjhana, a Changing the Story Youth Research Board member from Kathmandu, Nepal.Samjhana Balami, , , nepal changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-nepali
YRB HAIKUyouth-research-board
The power of music for connecting young people globallyBlog (2021/07/20) The power of music for connecting young people globallyDr Edwar Calderón, , , , , colombia phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
Scenes from a Changing the Story Graffiti Art workshop'Street Art to Promote Representation and Epistemic Justice among Marginalized Rural Zimbabwean Youth' is a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project. This is one of several films documenting the …, , , , , , phase2 changemakers zimbabwe locationfilm sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities subject-street-art youth
ImaginingOtherwise: Meet GomezThe ImaginingOtherwise project visited the Zeitz Mocaa museum as our final art-activism-educational event for this difficult year. Meet Gomez who is studying engineering and was fascinated by the architecture of …Gomez, , , , , event south-africa changemakers locationfilm subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections youth
Case Study ‘The Happiness project: Reflecting on my journey’Blog (2020/08/11) Case Study ‘The Happiness project: Reflecting on my journey’, , , , india phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections
Does the education system equip us for our future?Creative Education Corner is a group within the Changing the Story Youth Research Board comprised of Samjhana, Arlinda, and Taahirah who are interested in arts-based methods and specifically the question …Arlinda, Samjhana Balami, Taahirah Hoosain, , youth-research-boardformat-zine subject-participatory-arts youth
Meet JesúsCheck out the video to hear Jesús from the Changing the Story Youth Research Board talk about what his motivations were for his research and where he is going with …Jesús Campos, , , venezuela changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-spanish
Alone, Tahn-Dee MatthewsSkill Exchange workshops to develop skills that would be useful to young change-makers, March - April 2022Tahn-Dee Matthews, event changemakersfilm
Creative Education Corner Campaign: Does the Education System Equip us for our Future?This is a short animation created by Samjhana Balami (a member of the Changing the Story Youth Education Board), introducing Creative Education Corner, a collective of three members of the …Samjhana Balami, , , , , nepal changemakers youth-research-board locationfilm language-english sdg-4-education sdg-8-work
Changing the Story: Whose stories and why?Blog (2018/05/16) Changing the Story: Whose stories and why?Dr Ly Sok-Kheang, Dr Pete Manning, Sayana Ser, , , , cambodia phase1 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-reflections