“I’m not giving up. I never did. I never will.”

That’s how one inmate ended his digital story. He was an athlete who was at the peak of his career and a face in Singapore’s world of sports. It took only one offense to shatter his dreams.

He lost everything but not his heart – the heart of a champion. He doesn’t know what’s next for him, but he’s not giving up the hope that there’s life after prison. All these became clearer as he went through the process of digital storytelling which invited him to journey into his heart.

His story and the stories of other inmates (Singapore Prison Service) – my team and I will remember for a long time. It was hard to keep our eyes dry when we listened to them bare their hearts through their stories.

One inmate said, “The workshop has helped me a lot. I learned to use Audacity and MovieMaker. It also taught me to express and tell my story through a video. It is really useful because I am a shy boy and I haven’t told my parents how much I love them. But after the workshop, I did. Through a video.”

We enjoyed their great sense of humour. It was beautiful and redeeming to see how they are still able to see beyond their current situation and to hold on to hopes and dreams; and to desire to be better people. We hope to see digital storytelling become an on-going programme to help inmates learn useful computer skills, gain confidence in writing and expressing themselves, getting in touch with their feelings, and reconnecting with their families, and integrate back to society.

“When we tell and listen to stories, we can almost feel our souls breathing fully and deeply. Our capacity to see options, to visualize possibilities, to imagine expands and we are somehow more alive.” – Michael Parent

Every good product or business has a great story. This is an opportunity in one full day to discover your own story, the hidden power of metaphors and exploring both oral and digital techniques in the retelling of your own tale.

Come for a storytelling workshop with Johnny Gillet, Angeline Koh and Carl Rognstad. 24 March 2012. 9:30 am – 6 pm. For more info, please visit www.digitalstorytellingasia.com

CET Professionals (Adult Educators, Training Managers and HRD Professionals), training executives, and anyone who want to be refreshed and learn good skills and powerful ways to present your ideas – this is the workshop for you.

Digital Storytelling Asia and Institute for Adult Learning Singapore offer this workshop that will help participants produce a 1-2 minute video to powerfully communicate a personal story.

Wednesday to Friday, 21 to 23 March 2012. 9.00am to 5.00pm

Limited seats available. For more info, please click Digital Storytelling for Personal and Professional Growth. To register, please click here.

I co-facilitated a video production workshop this week with a group of accountants and other professionals in the corporate world. None of them have ever tried the basic software that we used – Audacity and Windows Movie Maker. Quite challenging, yet exciting at the same time.

Together with my team, I had to teach like it was my first time, too; mindful of each one’s weaknesses and strengths. I guess as a facilitator, I’m the one who benefit most. The more I teach, the more I learn. And yes, the more chances for me to have that beginner’s experience. As the participants learn new things, it’s priceless to see the light on their face. The relief. The “wow” and “aha” moments.

How their frowns turn to smiles and big grins and sighs to laughter and cheers after learning something – an eruption of wonder – ah, those are some of the best moments in the workshop that I hold dear in my heart.

For everyone, a new journey begins.

Register Now/More Info

“When a digital story is finished it should be remembered for its soul, not the bells and whistles of the technology tools.” -  Bernajean Porter, author, DigiTales: The Art of Telling Digital Stories

Digital storytelling is about stories and the telling of stories using multi-media tools. New Word Order brings you An Evening of Digital Stories in August, where graphic designer, author, and now, digital storyteller, Angeline Koh, will show how people are discovering the timeless delight of storytelling in this digital age.

New Word Order is an initiative of The Arts House.

“Home means you must have some memories, you must have shared experiences and you must have some sense of where we came from, why we are here what it means to us… we will tell the stories about it to the younger ones and the next generation…we will connect to one another, connect to our parents and past, and to our children and future.”

The article quoted Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his speech at the launch of this year’s HeritageFest, a community trail project by the National Heritage Board.

Wow. How timely and significant that is for me, for Digital Storytelling Asia, and for everyone who believe in the power and necessity of stories.

I thought, “Yes, that’s it. That’s what we do. That’s what we’re trying to bring to society, to schools, to individuals, to various groups…”

Digital storytelling founder Dana Atchley said, “The stories and anecdotes we share with one another are the ways we let each other know who we are, what we care about, where we come from, and where we are going.”

In the midst of all the confusing roads before us, the challenges, the thrill, and the ups and downs any pioneering work faces, what PM Lee said was like water to a dry land. A beacon of light to a traveller.

“Stories are like fairy gold, the more you give away, the more you have.”

Come for a three-day digital storytelling workshop, 17-19  August 2011. Write your story. Record your audio narrative. Learn how to put your audio and images together. Go home with your two-minute digital story done and ready for use. Meet new friends. Share your stories. For more info, please visit www.digitalstorytellingasia.com.