Background
During the autumn of 2011 Swedish television broadcasted the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s lecture
entitled "The Danger of a Single Story", talking about the danger that arises when people hear only a single story
about a country, a culture, a group or an individual.
She stated how important it is for us to have more than one story about each other in order to avoid prejudice, segregation and racism. These thoughts inspired the staff of the Department of Culture and Leisure of Simrishamn, Sweden, to develop a practical method of working actively for
integration, understanding, healthy curiosity and respect between people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.
Method and Purpose
Together with students and other members of the community of Simrishamn, we have developed a new card game, More Than One Story. The first edition is in English and Swedish. Each card suggests a story which players can tell
about themselves. Players take turns picking cards and then practice telling stories about themselves and listening
to others tell their stories.
Areas of Use
While developing the game, we have played More Than One Story with students, teachers and counselors at schools, with youth visiting homes for the elderly, with staff and visitors at the local youth center and library, as well as with
mixed groups of all ages at our local cultural center. These pilot groups have provided us with useful input. Their spontaneous reactions and reflections have convinced us that our game achieves its purpose of building bridges
between people. Players developed a greater appreciation of their classmates/workmates, seeing them in a different
light. The atmosphere of openness and sharing which was created by playing More Than One Story has touched
many and encouraged us to invite others to join our project. Our goal is that More Than One Story will be distributed
worldwide in many languages for the enrichment and benefit of all.
Partner Organisations and Sponsors
The Department of Culture and Leisure of Simrishamn, Sweden, is now distributing More Than One Story to schools
and other institutions which are using it to foster integration and contact between diverse groups in the community.
We are also spreading More Than One Story as a gift to associations and organizations while inviting a number of groups to come to our cultural center to play together. We are training ambassadors for More Than One Story who introduce the game at schools, homes for the elderly, youth centers, and other places where people meet.
These ambassadors invite people at local events and conferences to play, inform them about our project and sell
the card game to those interested. These ambassadors are also contacting potential partner organizations and
sponsors which can then work together with us to increase integration, understanding and people ’s well-being.
Here is a link to the new video for the More Than One Story project which was shown at the awards ceremony in Bali.
MORE THAN ONE STORY
Here is a link picture of "More Than One Story" and the other finalists
at the Intercultural Innovation Award ceremony at the UNAOC Global Forum in Bali. More Than One Story
return |
