As part of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study alumni program, iEARN hosted its fourth Regional Digital Storytelling Workshop for YES and ASMYLE alumni in the Balkans in partnership with American Councils for International Education. This workshop was hosted in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina from August 6-10, 2014.

The Balkans Regional Digital Storytelling Workshop brought together 25 YES and ASMYLE alumni from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey for a hands-on training that enhanced and expanded participants’ technical skills in photography, videography, blogging and social media. In today’s multimedia environment, activism and community service require a range of communication and media skills. The workshop explored time-tested storytelling techniques and focused on creating accessible messages for both local and international audiences.

Divided into six production teams, participants spent an intensive five days, often working until late at night, to complete digital storytelling projects. Their curiosity and creativity was evidence of their dedication and interest in the topic. Below are some of the quotes from participants as they reflected on the experience and what they learned:

“I learned a lot about blogging, shooting, production and post-production. I learned a lot about team work and about the projects that we are going to do in the near future.”

“Aside from very valuable storytelling and video editing, I learned about a whole new side of Twitter that completely changed my mind about it.”

For one team, close collaborative teamwork was not simple, as group members from countries with different socio-historical perspectives on the Balkans conflicts of the 1990s struggled to articulate the story they wished to tell. Through many discussions and activities, the participants were able to overcome their disagreements and created a story with a powerful message on overcoming historical and cultural prejudice. Other groups were forced to assess their interpersonal skills when they experienced technical complications. By the end of the workshop, the alumni had begun planning cross-country community projects and nearly half of them had become Twitter users.

Through the workshop, students not only sharpened leadership skills and gained new digital media and social media skills, but also strengthened their regional alumni networks, across both the Kennedy-Lugar YES and the A-SMYLE programs. They are now tasked with completing an individual digital media campaign using the skills that they learned at the workshop. These projects are due by November 2014 to be showcased in the December Virtual Film Festival.

Participants worked in groups to create photo essays, infographics, and short videos around the theme “Changing Minds.” Participants utilized all the skills they learned in the sessions and received one-on-one guidance from trainers. Lastly, participants created a social media plan to advertise and share their products. To view the videos, please see below. Photo essays and info graphics can be found on the YES Digital Journalists blog.

Crossing the Bridge

Growing up in Kosovo during the war, Zana Idrizi had never had a Serbian friend. During her YES exchange year in Minnesota, Zana’s host parents decided to also host Serbian students. The friendship was unlikely, but over time the girls found common ground and a best friend in each other. This video was produced by: Anisa Hoxha (Albania), Nevena Djakovic (Serbia), Petar Ivanov (Bulgaria) and Zana Idrizi (Kosovo).

Heartbeat
Saadet Tas was born with chronic heart failure, which prevented her from experiencing many normal childhood things. But when she learned about the Kennedy-Lugar YES program, she was not going to be deterred. Upon being accepted to the program, Saadet needed her parents’ signatures, but there was one problem: she hadn’t told them that she had applied! This video was produced by: Angela Gjekanoviki (Macedonia), Davor Tunjic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Nemanja Miltenovic (Serbia) and Saadet Tas (Turkey).

Family is Family
Nino Lojpur was preparing for his year in the U.S. when he got a call telling him that they had found him a “special placement” in Pennsylvania. Coming from a homophobic society in Sarajevo, Nino was looking forward to life with a same sex couple. But quickly, Nino learned that life with two moms wasn’t any different than a traditional family and that what made this placement special was the love that they all shared. This video was produced by: Bruno Posa (Serbia), Fjolla Kondirolli (Kosovo), Nino Lojpur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Redina Tahaj (Albania).

Change Reaction
In Macedonia, people are not familiar with volunteerism. They want to help the poor, but don’t know how. After his exchange year in the U.S., Ljupche discovered the value of community service and has brought that spirit back to his home country. This video was produced by: Gabriela Antova (Bulgaria), Katerina Margariti (Albania), Ljupche Stojyanov (Macedonia) and Nikola Pejakovic (Serbia).

My [Ex]Change
YES exchange student, Marija, shares her personal story of growth after her exchange year in the U.S., as she becomes more open-minded and accepting. This video was produced by: Bruno Hasa (Albania), Katarina Zivic (Serbia), Marija Indova (Macedonia) and Mehmet Ucaravci (Turkey).

An Active Change
The daughter of a professional basketball player, Lili Valtcheva was raised to have an active lifestyle, but this was not common in her Bulgarian community. During her exchange year in the U.S., she grew passionate about youth involvement in sports. Upon her return to Bulgaria she planned a Youth Sports Day to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children in her community. This video was produced by: Lili Valtcheva (Bulgaria), Marsid Nuho (Albania), Olta Myslimi (Albania) and Selcuk Kasim (Turkey).

View videos on the YES Vimeo account. Photos from the event can be viewed on YES Flickr.