TALE Curriculum: Empowerment Through Story, Listening, and Community

The educational component of the TALE project was designed to offer young people and youth workers a space for learning, self-expression, and mutual empowerment. We developed two formats — a shorter and a longer version of the curriculum — because our experience showed just how important flexibility is when working with diverse youth groups and under various conditions.

In Norway, we piloted a short 4-hour curriculum, which proved to be an effective entry point for young people who had less time or were new to the project. The focus was on getting to know the TALE platform, an introduction to active listening, and the basics of story collection. Through interactive methods, participants explored how personal stories can serve as tools for connection and understanding.

In Croatia, however, we implemented a two-day intensive training, where young people had the opportunity to engage more deeply — not only as participants, but also as co-designers of the curriculum. This unplanned but invaluable dimension — that vulnerable youth were involved in shaping the training already during the preparatory phase — brought additional depth and authenticity to the process. Their feedback, needs, and suggestions directly influenced the structure and activities.

So, what does the curriculum include?

The TALE curriculum covers the following thematic areas:

1. Interculturality and Mapping Diversity – raising awareness about diverse identities and analyzing inclusivity in local communities

2. Active Listening – developing communication skills and empathy through structured pair exercises

3. Story Collection – encouraging the sharing of personal stories while respecting ethics, privacy, and emotional safety

4. Advocacy Through Storytelling – using personal narratives in campaigns, education, and social change

5. Empowerment Workshops – creating campaigns, visual messages, and public advocacy using stories from the TALE platform

The evaluation of the curriculum-based training showed that young people most appreciated the safe atmosphere, freedom of expression, and the opportunity to participate with their own ideas. They particularly emphasized the importance of practical exercises, storytelling experiences, peer support, and having their voices genuinely heard.

One of the most valuable insights came from a participant who said:

“What I liked most was that there was no pressure. If you wanted to share, you could; if not, you could just listen. And that helped me open up.”

We thus created a curriculum that is more than just educational — it’s an experiential space where stories, people, and new perspectives on vulnerability as strength come together to foster inclusive community growth.

You can find the full curriculum among our publications.