In this professional development workshop, we will explore the role stories play in shaping children’s ideas about themselves, others, and their societies. Together, we will explore books that showcase diverse lives and perspectives and provide children with meaningful connections and role models. Participants will become familiar with approaches to selecting empowering, discrimination-sensitive literature and will take a closer look at a range of examples. They will also share experiences from their own work.

Janika Hartwig

The second part turns to working directly with children, including through multilingual books and storytelling. How can reading become an active, participatory experience? What kinds of conversations can stories open up around difference, belonging, and injustice? How can we incorporate the values that matter to us into this work while allowing children to develop their own responses and interpretations?

 

The workshop is open to anyone who works with or is training to work with children. It will be facilitated by Lina Ashour and Janika Hartwig.

 

To participate, please register by October 8, 2026, using the following form: Registration — Empowering Children through Stories

 

The workshop is part of the project Erzähl mal! Unendliche Geschichten für eine Stadt der Vielfalt, which is funded by AKTION Mensch.