While searching for ideas for my dissertation research, I stumbled upon an article about a young, Diné person who had shared a video of herself skateboarding in Diné traditional clothing on Dinétah (The Navajo Nation). It was obvious how proud she was of her heritage and that she wanted others to see her life from her point of view. In discussions about development, the issues of representation, participation, and sources of public knowledge are still in need of change. In academic research and in development practice, the people impacted by interventions need to participate (even better own) in the creation and decisions tied to an intervention.

When I saw this video, I described it as digital storytelling. With the increased capabilities of mobile phones, more people are able to share their world, their beliefs, and their knowledge. As I investigated this broad term, digital storytelling, I became aware of an organization called StoryCenter. This organization has been facilitating the creation of “digital stories” around the world since 1994. The method is about listening, sharing, and dialog.  Storytelling allows us to see a different point of view or perhaps recognize parts of our own story in someone else’s story. My first digital story using the StoryCenter method was about finding my voice and opening up to my own creativity.  I have shared it with friends and family which has resulted in many conversations about being a woman in this world and the obstacles that we face.

After attending the workshop, I decided that their Digital Storytelling method is what I want to use in my dissertation reserach.  These are two of my digital stories in English and in Romanian.