Survivor Storytelling Anthology
As a team and community of survivors and advocates, we see storytelling as a core part of our work and movement. While many of us hold on to our stories of survivorship, we rarely get to share or tell them unapologetically and collectively.
With SOAR’s first Storytelling Anthology, we hope to create a communal and respected space for survivors and advocates to tell their stories with agency, and be met with kindness, care, and dignity. For us, this collection of such stories is a project of care as much as it is a project of deeply necessary advocacy.
In October 2024, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we will be publishing an Anthology of South Asian Survivor Stories. We believe that survivors deserve a communal and respected space to tell their stories with agency and be met with kindness, care, and dignity. With SOAR’s first Storytelling Anthology, we hope to do just that—share South Asian survivor stories that boldly reflect our vast and diverse community and experiences as survivors.
Read the full Call for Stories and how to submit your story! Please submit all stories by Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.
We’re seeking stories that touch on the following themes:
Journeys of surviving, healing, recovering, and/or thriving after experiencing or witnessing gender-based violence—this journey doesn’t have to be linear nor have an ending, it just has to be yours!
Experiences navigating services, systems (i.e. courts, housing), and organizations as a survivor or advocate
Experiences with cultural and/or intergenerational norms and practices that lead to and enable violence or oppression
Visions, plans, and re-imaginations of what communities and futures of safety and joy should look like
Stories can be submitted and told in all formats, including but not limited to:
Written narratives
Photography
Poetry
Films
Visual art
Letters
Have another format or medium you’re interested in? Let us know in the submission form!
To learn more about what to submit, read our full call for stories here!
Support for Storytellers
We have 3 different support options our storytellers can choose from:
A Storytelling Academy: The Storytelling Academy, hosted by SOAR x re:power, is a 5-week workshop from May 15th - June 19th to support and practice storytelling skills, particularly for organizing and advocacy. This is recommended if you have some prior experience with storytelling or for those who are looking to refine their storytelling skills.
Note: You are still welcome to join the Academy, even if you do not want to publish your story in the Anthology.
Story Coaching: Coaching will include 1:1 or 2:1 sessions with a SOAR team member to help you talk through your story. Story coaching is recommended for anybody who might have little to no experience with storytelling.
Story Editing: Editing will include asynchronous or offline support and is recommended for people who have more experience and would prefer a lower time commitment.
You can find more information on safety, supportive offerings, and compensation here.
Should you have any questions or concerns, or if you'd like to schedule a 1:1 meeting, please email storytelling@southasiansoar.org!
Support survivor storytelling
Stories tell us about the conditions that lead to violence, what survival looks like, how resilience is formed, and what healing and safety could be.
Help us support survivors in sharing their stories!