In lecture with visiting expert, students explore impact of collective narratives on resilience


Students discussed the impact of storytelling and narratives on bolstering resilience in the face of occupation in a lecture led by David Denborough, a community worker, author, songwriter, and co-director of the Dulwich Center in Adelaide, Australia, on Thursday, May 2, 2019.

In this lecture, organized by the Institute of Community and Public Health at Birzeit University, Denborough assessed efforts he has made in collaboration with the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture to utilize positive storylines to help victims create narratives that facilitate the sharing of experiences across different contexts and cultures. 

“Identity is shaped by storylines that comprise memories and histories,” said Denborough, pointing to the importance of personal storylines in establishing narratives that can be shared across communities. “Negative storylines and narratives can limit what people think they are capable of doing, whereas positive narratives help destroy boundaries and, in the process, create a sense of community and bolster resilience,” he noted. 

Discussing the act of creating positive storylines, Denborough explained that people should “think about something that gets them through hard times, build a story around this action, skill, or memory, and then connect it to collective and cultural traditions.” 

Established in 1998, the Institute of Community and Public Health aims to contribute to the protection and improvement of the health of the Palestinian population through research and teaching and by building the capacities of public health providers and planners.

The institute combines immediate health-crisis survival-needs planning with long-term development objectives. Its programs run in cycles, beginning with observation and research/needs assessments to inform teaching and training, action and field interventions, monitoring, advocacy, and evaluation.