We work to shift the narratives that shape how communities understand identity, difference, and belonging.
We recognize that harmful narratives do not exist in isolation. They are formed and sustained through culture, religion, social norms, and institutional practice. These narratives influence how people think, how communities relate, and how systems respond. Without engaging these underlying drivers, efforts toward inclusion remain limited.
Our work focuses on making these narratives visible, understanding where they come from, and supporting communities to reshape them into alternatives that affirm dignity and belonging.
Who This Is For
● Communities and community leaders
● Civil society organizations and advocacy groups
● Faith leaders and cultural actors
● Networks working on human rights and inclusion
● Service providers in health, education, and law enforcement
The Challenge We Address
Many communities are navigating:
● Deeply rooted stigma and discrimination
● Harmful narratives reinforced through culture, religion, and social norms
● Limited safe spaces for dialogue and reflection
● Institutional practices that reflect bias and exclusion
● Fear and misunderstanding around identity, especially LGBTIQ+ identities
These challenges are sustained not only by individual beliefs, but by systems and structures that reinforce them.
Our Approach
Our work is grounded in a structured, participatory process that supports communities to move from unexamined assumptions to intentional narrative change. We work through four interconnected stages:
1. Identifying Harmful Narratives
We support participants to surface commonly held narratives, expressions, and assumptions that contribute to stigma and exclusion.
2. Understanding Root Causes
We examine where these narratives come from, including their roots in faith, culture, social norms, and institutional practices. This includes exploring how history, language, and power dynamics sustain them.
3. Developing Alternative Narratives
Working with participants, we reframe harmful narratives into affirming messages that promote dignity, inclusion, and respect. These alternatives are grounded in lived realities and cultural context.
4. Disseminating and Embedding New Narratives
We support communities and stakeholders to share these alternative narratives through appropriate channels, including dialogue spaces, storytelling, media, community engagements, and institutional processes.
How We Work in Practice
We engage cross-sectoral actors drawn from critical areas of service provision, including:
● Health
● Education
● Law enforcement
● Faith and cultural leadership
Through facilitated workshops, dialogue spaces, and structured tools, participants critically engage with narratives, reflect on their own assumptions, and develop strategies for change.
This approach is not confrontational. It is invitational, grounded in reflection, and oriented toward understanding and transformation.
What Changes
Through this work, communities begin to:
● Recognize and question previously unexamined narratives
● Understand the origins and impact of harmful beliefs
● Engage more constructively across difference
● Shift language and behaviour in everyday interactions
● Build more inclusive and responsive systems
Over time, these shifts influence both social relationships and institutional practice.