Stories of Change

The international training course “Stories of Change: Community Impact through Volunteering” aims to strengthen the competences of youth workers and community practitioners in recognising and promoting volunteering as a pathway to democratic participation, while equipping them with storytelling- and visual-based engagement methods. The project builds on the understanding that volunteering is often the first step toward active citizenship for many young people and adults, yet its broader social impact frequently remains invisible or under-communicated.

Bringing together participants from eight countries across Europe and North Africa, the training will explore how volunteering contributes to community participation, social cohesion, and inclusive democratic processes. Particular attention will be given to intercultural learning and mutual exchange between European and Southern Mediterranean contexts. The learning process will rely on non-formal, creative methodologies such as digital storytelling, photovoice, short video narratives, and participatory public presentation formats, enabling participants to transform personal volunteering experiences into powerful stories of change that can inspire wider civic engagement.

As a result of the training, participants will acquire practical tools, co-create adaptable methodological approaches, and design small-scale local action plans that foster youth participation in democratic life and strengthen community responsibility. Hosting the activity in Tunisia provides a meaningful intercultural environment to experience diverse forms of civic engagement and contributes to building more inclusive, participatory societies both within Europe and in neighbouring regions.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the link between volunteering, active citizenship, and democratic participation in different socio-cultural contexts.

• Recognise and articulate the social impact of volunteering at individual, community, and societal levels.

• Apply non-formal storytelling and visual methodologies (e.g., digital storytelling, photovoice, short video, participatory presentation) in youth and community work.

• Facilitate inclusive reflection processes that enable diverse participants to share experiences and voices safely.

• Design small-scale community actions or engagement initiatives that use volunteering to strengthen democratic participation.

• Adapt creative engagement tools to local realities, including contexts with fewer opportunities or limited resources.

• Collaborate in intercultural teams and integrate learning from Euro-Mediterranean perspectives into their professional practice.

• Increase their confidence as multipliers, capable of disseminating methods and inspiring civic engagement within their organisations and communities.