Future Narratives

Background Future Narratives originated from the belief that it is through telling the stories of ourselves and of our communities that we can understand and invest in our possible futures. We see understanding the narratives that surround us at a personal, community and societal level as a vital part of this literacy, and so the project sought to give young people the confidence to trust in their ability to influence the future through the stories they tell. Young people, particularly those from situations of less advantage, are often marginalised and excluded from visions of the future. In a time of disruption, socio-economic uncertainty and digital transformation, it is vital that young people are engaged and empowered to deconstruct and reconstruct the narratives which shape their realities. We saw the need to bring this narrative literacy together with Futures Literacy, the capability to imagine the future and so to reshape the present thanks to one’s imagination. By developing these concepts into a methodology foregrounding non-formal education and the perspectives of young people, we addressed the need to enable real and transformative change in their ability to imagine and create inclusive and positive futures. Objectives To provide youth workers with tools aimed at promoting young people’s key competences and active participation in civic and social life thanks to Futures Literacy and narrative; To enhance young people's key competences, with a particular focus on literacy; personal, social and learning to learn; digital; citizenship; cultural awareness and expression; To engage, connect, empower young people thanks to Futures Literacy and narrative literacy, enabling their voice and their vision to reach out to policy-makers, public administrations, civil society and other young people all over Europe. Implementation 1) A staff training event for youth workers, enabling project partners to commonly identify the needs of the young participants of the project and to exchange their experience while being introduced to the key concepts of narrative and Futures literacy; 2) The realisation of European Guidelines for the innovative use of narrative and storytelling in the empowerment of young people, (IO1), which enabled dialogue between partner organisations and experts in the fields of narrative, storytelling, and Futures Literacy in order to develop the methodological approach of Future Narratives. 3) Development of a Digital Platform (IO2), which: a) collected and disseminated the project results and digital contents throughout the project, b) enabled an interdisciplinary approach to narrative and Futures Literacy, c) connected young people all over Europe; 4) The experimentation of Future Narratives approach with young people through: a) Future Narratives informal innovative pathways (IO3); b) a series of Transnational Workshops in Spain, Greece, Germany and Sweden addressed to young participants. 5) The dissemination of the project through Multiplier Events in each country, giving young people a platform to make their voices heard. Achievements IO1: European Guidelines for the innovative use of narrative and storytelling in the empowerment of young people IO2: Future Narratives Digital Platform IO3: Future Narratives informal innovative pathways