TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Stephen Shashoua
The CERITA: Storytelling for Harmony programme aimed to strengthen the capacity of university students to use storytelling as a tool for dialogue, social cohesion and bridge-building across differences. Through an experiential Train-the-Trainer approach, participants developed the knowledge, skills and confidence to facilitate storytelling and dialogue processes within their own universities and communities, creating a multiplier effect beyond the initial training.
The training addressed the need for practical, participatory approaches to counter polarisation, strengthen trust and foster meaningful engagement across ethnic, religious, cultural and socio-economic differences. It responded to a growing demand for young leaders who could create safe and brave spaces for dialogue, amplify diverse voices and support more inclusive communities through locally led initiatives.
The programme directly supported the goals of the partner organisations by building a sustainable network of trained youth facilitators, promoting social cohesion through storytelling and dialogue, and enabling participants to cascade the methodology through community-based initiatives. By linking individual capacity-building with institutional partnerships and public engagement, the programme contributed to longer-term objectives of strengthening community resilience, reducing polarisation and embedding storytelling as a practical tool for civic participation and social harmony.
The programme brought together university students from across Indonesia and East Timor who were studying at universities in Bandung. Participants represented diverse regions, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds, creating a rich environment for intercultural and interreligious dialogue. They were selected for their potential to act as peer facilitators and multipliers, implementing storytelling and dialogue initiatives within their universities and local communities following the training.
Facilitators were from Singapore, Indonesia, Canada
The programme was based on non-formal, experiential learning, with participants learning through practice, reflection and peer exchange. Methods included Story Circles, Public Narrative (Story of Self, Us and Now), Image Theatre and Tableau, Fishbowl and World Café dialogues, collaborative scavenger hunts, facilitation practice sessions, small-group design labs and structured reflection. Participants also designed and delivered cascading storytelling and dialogue initiatives, applying their learning in real community settings as part of the Train-the-Trainer approach.
The programme significantly strengthened participants' confidence and competence in using storytelling as a tool for dialogue, facilitation and social cohesion. By the end of the training, participants had developed practical facilitation skills, designed community storytelling initiatives and were prepared to cascade the methodology within their universities and local communities.
The success of the programme was demonstrated through both participant outcomes and longer-term impact. More than 92% of participants reported increased capability to promote social cohesion through storytelling, while 89% reported a greater understanding and appreciation of social cohesion. Participants subsequently implemented around 50 community initiatives, reaching more than 1,500 people, and the programme established an ongoing CERITA Changemakers Network to support continued collaboration. The programme also contributed to the creation of CERITAFest and was integrated into the City of Bandung's Bandung Kota Cerita initiative, demonstrating institutional recognition and sustainability beyond the initial training.
The training was documented through programme reports, monitoring and evaluation data, social media, event webpages and communications produced by The Caravanserai Collective, Temasek Foundation and partner organisations.
As Co-Designer and Co-Lead Trainer, I was responsible for the design and delivery of the CERITA programme as a full-time member of the trainers' team. I co-developed the curriculum, learning journey and non-formal methodologies, ensuring the programme equipped participants to become storytelling and dialogue facilitators within their universities and communities.
During the training, I facilitated plenary and small-group sessions, led experiential learning activities, coached participants through facilitation practice and the design of their cascading initiatives, and provided ongoing mentoring and feedback. I also worked closely with the training team to adapt the programme in response to participant learning needs and supported the integration of the training with the wider CERITAFest and community engagement process.
Stephen is an exceptional trainer and a great partner to work with designing and facilitating workshops.