Storylink Bridging knowledge gaps between cultures through creative biographical writing

The projetc Storylink builds on a key finding from the participatory research project Caring Community Living Labs (National Research Program 74): The reach of caring communities often is limited due to disconnections between social groups of different cultural backgrounds living at the place. 

CareComLabs explored how local communities in German-speaking regions of Switzerland can support older adults through caring communities, the benefits of participatory research, and ways to integrate diverse knowledge systems in a participatory process. Storylink builds on this foundation both methodologically and empirically.

Methodologically, the participatory approach continues to engage people with no academic background to co-produce, share, and discuss new knowledge in public forums. Empirically, it addresses a key limitation identified in the previous project: limited interaction and knowledge exchange between Swiss citizens and residents with migration backgrounds, including Albanians. Minimal interaction and weak social ties were found to hinder the development of caring communities, reducing opportunities for mutual support and care. Language barriers and other factors exacerbate these divisions, increasing prejudice between groups .  

Aim

The aim of the project is to promote mutual understanding by enabling dialog between Swiss and Albanian populations, based on shared life experiences compiled in a creative biographical book format. 

Procedure

To achieve this goal, the project proceeds in three phases:  

Book production: Documentation of experiences of ageing and collaborative writing 

• Collection of personal experiences of ageing and care through narrative interviews. 
• Participatory analysis of experiences in three workshops: One workshop for Albanian and German speaking interviews, each to analyze the experiences. In a third workshop we jointly discuss all stories together to better understand the diverse perspectives, appreciating the variety while deploying the concept of cultural humility, and to identify commonalities across the differences. 
• Co-creative storytelling and writing of biographical and/or fictional stories based on the analysis of the interview data. 
• Professional translation and book editing, book production. 

Book dissemination and intercultural dialogue 

• Organization and conduct of five intercultural reading and discussion forums to launch and discuss the bi-lingual book with a wider audience. 
• Potential places include public libraries, cafés, community centers, nursing homes, general practitioners’ practices or hospital waiting areas. 

Guidebook production: Further develop the procedure of the project into a method for intercultural co-creative storytelling 

• Documentation of discussions in all meetings and events in former phases. 
• Evaluation and (self-)reflection of the procedure. 
• Co-creation of a manual allowing the method to be adopted to other social groups. 

All phases will be conducted by a research team consisting of an Albanian and a German speaking co-researcher and a scholar. 

Results

The project has three directly measurable expected results:  

a) a bilingual book documenting the care experiences of Albanian and Swiss older adults, 

b) five intercultural reading and discussion forums held in five different municipalities, bringing together the public and diverse stakeholders to engage with the book's content, and  

c) a comprehensive guidebook outlining the methodology of creative biographical storytelling based on participatory action research paradigms as a tool for fostering dialogue and disseminating knowledge. 

Outlook

Art and storytelling are viewed as forms of knowledge production and dissemination with information told in a more empathic and authentic voice than the technical jargon used in research and policy reports. Due to its ability to communicate with an empathic voice and to numerous stakeholders at once and foster understanding, this method of data dissemination is growing in popularity and has shown promises to increase communication between different groups. This is best seen in narrative medicine, which uses patient narratives to support healing, or in research, such as with the social fiction series, which presents research in topics such as LGBTQI in literary forms. We test and document creative biographical writing, developed through a participatory process, to foster dialogue across communities of different cultural backgrounds. Hence, we provide practical guidance on a knowledge communication method adaptable to other populations and issues.

Publications

• The first roundtable for the presentation of the STORYLINK project was held on December 9 at the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Bern.

  The project is being developed as part of the research work of the University of Applied Sciences Bern, specifically within the Department of Health.

  In an interview with Albinfo.ch, Mr. Gashi discusses the motivations that led him and the implementation team to develop this important project, as well as the stage it is currently in.

• Interview with Shkumbin Gashi, an employee at the University of Applied Sciences Bern in Switzerland, about the STORYLINK project, which focuses on the care and support of Albanian and Swiss older adults.

  Shkumbin spoke about the project, its objectives, methodology, and potential long-term effects.