Global Fund for Children (GFC) President and CEO John Hecklinger, Director of Communications and Marketing Nina Ford, and Program Officer Daniela Martinez Moreno will speak on dignified storytelling at Expo 2020 Dubai.

On Friday, December 10, 2021, Hecklinger, Ford, and Martinez Moreno will speak at the Dignified Storytelling Forum. This international event brings together members of civil society organizations; governmental, international, and regional agencies; and the private sector to discuss responsible and ethical storytelling with an emphasis on the humanitarian and development sectors.

The forum, which will be held between 10:00AM–6:00PM GST (Dubai, UAE), is free and open to the public. Like the broader Dignified Storytelling initiative, it is supported by Dubaï se soucie, Expo 2020 Dubai, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, alongside other partners.

Martinez Moreno will host a workshop at 12:00PM GST on promoting youth-led storytelling for social change. The workshop, entitled “Stories in the Making,” will focus on innovations and best practices in youth-led storytelling from communities around the world. The speakers include representatives from three GFC partner organizations: Fondation de la foi in India, Integrate UK in the United Kingdom, and Nayanaya Trust in South Africa.

Hecklinger will speak on the panel “Showcasing Dignified Stories” at 4:20PM GST. This panel will delve into dignified storytelling principles through case studies and discuss how these case studies relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Ford will moderate the panel “Dignified Storytelling with Historically Marginalised Communities,” which is scheduled for 5:35PM GST. This panel will provide a deeper dive into telling dignified stories when there are additional sensitivities due to the contributors’ identities or circumstances.

The forum also features other inspiring speakers and workshops. You can view the full program ici. To join the event, either virtually or in person, please register ici.

Martinez Moreno will also be speaking at RewirEd, another Expo 2020 Dubai event, which will be held from December 12–14, 2021. RewirEd, which is led by Dubai Cares in partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai, is a global education summit focused on redefining education to ensure a prosperous, sustainable, innovative, and accessible future for everyone.