Our Approach

Story Workshop focuses on supporting Malawians to improve their lives by addressing issue of HIV/AIDS, food security, gender, health, human rights and democracy, and the environment. We do this by telling stories that are based on the real lives of people, using mass media productions and community mobilization to disseminate our messages. The starting point for all our work is research into the barriers people experience when trying to improve their lives - and the incentives for change that they need to overcome those barriers.

Story Workshop strives to bridge the gap between what people know and what people do. Our programs and campaigns incorporate extensive content research, professional production, and continuous organized feedback, which allows us to constantly adjust and measure the effectiveness of our messages.

Sometimes something in our village happens exactly the same as an issue in the play so we just say, like the radio show is called: "Zimachitika." ("These things happen.") -Chinyonga Kapeni, Blantyre Rural

Most important, our stories whether radio shows, village theatre, print materials, public debates or music are based upon the belief that it is more important to facilitate communication among people than to simply convey messages, that listening to people's problems and the obstacles they are confronted with is the most effective strategy for helping Malawians improve their lives.