By: Shehneela Mazhar
Naveed Hameed, ELP alumnus 2016, is a documentary filmmaker and storyteller who serves as the creator and director of Kahani Sunao (“Tell A Story”) Storytelling School, an organization that aims to bridge the gaps among different communities through storytelling. The school has reached over 700 diverse youth and has created 17 documentary films and over 70 short videos to promote unity among different communities, ethnicities, and faiths. Naveed’s organization has worked with various local, national, and global organizations, including the U.S Mission Pakistan, the United States Institute of Peace, Peace Direct UK, and Story Center.
After completing the URAN (soar) project, the team has decided to scale it up and implement it in different areas of Pakistan under Alumni Small Grant (ASG) supported by U.S. Mission to Pakistan in partnership with Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). The URAN project aimed to provide more positive stories to bridge the gap between diverse religions by creating three short films showcasing the life journeys of local heroes creating change in Pakistan. The project also trained ten storytellers from marginalized communities and young women emphasizing the participation of young women and youth from marginalized communities. The project engaged U.S speakers, mentors, and Pak team experts to fulfill the U.S embassy mission.
The URAN project’s Digital Storytelling Bootcamp addressed the lack of access to training programs for storytelling and film, empowering over 10 storytellers by developing impactful and dynamic partnerships to spread their stories. The boot camp trained participants to harness the power of their stories to educate and influence people’s behavior in positive ways.
The screening event reached policymakers, academics, media representatives, and civil society, inviting them to become involved in this multi-layered journey to sustain peace in Pakistan. The event showcased the stories created during the project and reached a wide audience.
The stories created by the project presented a counter-narrative to violent extremism and shared the need for peace-building and community engagement work. The project selected young storytellers and leaders from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, students, and diverse community leaders, particularly young women and marginalized youth, to shape compelling narratives via storytelling.
The project also created a stepping stone to achieve many milestones in the journey of telling hope stories to bridge the gap among different communities and identities in Pakistan. The stories created during the project and after the boot camp were impactful and organized, as stated by the project beneficiaries, Wardah Noor and Joshua Dilawar.
We truly believe that the URAN project has played a crucial role in promoting unity among different communities, ethnicities, and faiths. By training storytellers and creating positive stories, the project aims to bridge the gaps among diverse communities and inspire change. The project is a testament to the power of storytelling to educate, influence behavior, and promote peace-building efforts.
