About the Activity
Story Wheel: Unfolding Experiences through Dialogue was organized by the Centre for Peace Praxis on Monday, 08 September. This session marked the second edition of STORY WHEEL and introduced a unique, first-of-its-kind storytelling format aimed at fostering empathy, dialogue, and mutual understanding among students.
STORY WHEEL was conceptualized as a safe and inclusive space where students could narrate their personal stories to small groups of listeners. Prior to the event, student storytellers underwent a screening process and were carefully selected to ensure diverse perspectives and meaningful narratives. The theme of the session, "Aliter: Embracing Differences," encouraged storytellers to reflect upon and share experiences that highlighted how they acknowledged, embraced, and grew through their differences across various social, emotional, and cultural contexts.
Event Highlights
The event commenced with a detailed briefing by the organizing team, outlining the purpose of STORY WHEEL and emphasizing the importance of maintaining it as a safe space for dialogue. Participants were reminded of their shared responsibility to uphold confidentiality, respect personal boundaries, and engage in empathetic listening.
Listeners arrived in significant numbers and selected storytellers based on the themes that resonated with them. Each storyteller was paired with a maximum of three listeners, allowing for intimate and focused exchanges. In total, 20 storytellers simultaneously shared their narratives with their respective listener groups. The stories explored deeply personal themes such as "A moment when you felt unheard," "A moment when you found your strength," and several other reflections on identity, resilience, and self-acceptance.
Faculty Remarks
Mr. Padmakumar
Associate Professor, Dept of Media Studies
Christ University
"Listen to understand, not merely listen to respond."
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Student Participants
Conclusion
Towards the conclusion of the session, Mr. Padmakumar addressed the gathering, highlighting the urgent need for active listening in contemporary society. He expressed appreciation for the format of STORY WHEEL and suggested that similar storytelling initiatives be organized in the future to strengthen dialogue-driven engagement on campus. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by a group photograph of all the storytellers. Overall, STORY WHEEL emerged as a meaningful and impactful initiative—an evening dedicated to celebrating differences, sharing lived experiences, fostering empathy, and promoting acceptance.
Event Gallery
Students engaging in story circles
Aligned with UN SDG