‘Every unheard story is a silence that shapes the society in ways that we don’t see’
Storytelling is way more than just entertaining because it does touch human life at every aspect,being a tool for identity and culture stories preserve traditions, languages not forgetting values. .They alsomake abstract problems to be relatable.It is also a healing process for individuals where telling their story can be a way to heal trauma and also a way of reclaiming dignity for some communities after silence or oppression.So while entertainment makes people forget for a moment, storytelling makes people remember, reflect and also respond.
Giving voice to the voiceless transforms society because it shifts power, breaks silence and exposes hidden truths when unheard people speak uncovering injustices that society often ignores.Which forces communities and leaders to pay attention. It also inspires collective action where one voice can start a movement.Think of how social media gave a platform to ordinary people making them to spark global campaigns . It also influences policies and decisions where policy makers respond more when real stories hit the public eye. By redefining narratives it challenges stereotypes by letting people tell their own truth, not just the one imposed on them.This builds a more inclusive and just society since it reshapes the values, policies, and direction of an entire society.
WHY SOME VOICES GO UNHEARD
Some voices go unheard because of systems, stigma and even silenced marginalization ,poverty, disability or minority status often push people to the edges of society, making them not to have the same platforms or resources to be heard. Power and Inequality is also another reason where those in authority control media, politics and resources.making ordinary people especially from vulnerable groups to be oftenly silenced because their voices threaten power structures.Lack of access to platforms can also be another issue where not everyone has internet, media coverage or education to express their story.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF STORYTELLING IN SOCIETY
This is the way one voice spreads and transforms communities.Where hen one person tells their story, it may seem small but like a pebble dropped into water, the impact spreads far beyond the first splash. Storytelling begins with awareness since it opens people’s eyes to realities they may never have imagined. From awareness comes empathy which is a shift in how we see and treat one another .The ripple doesn’t stop there. One story gives courage to another and soon a chorus of voices rises where there was once silence. This collective storytelling reshapes narratives, challenges stereotypes and inspires younger generations to speak without fear.
Storytelling is not just a gift , it is a responsibility. Every voice does matter especially those that have been silenced for too long. If you have a story, tell it. If you hear a story, amplify it. And if you hold a platform, use it to open doors for others. Because when the voiceless are heard, societies are transformed. Let us be the generation that listens, speaks and acts.