Narrative 4 was founded in 2012 by a group of passionate authors, activists, and educators, including renowned Irish writer Colum McCann and entrepreneur Lisa Consiglio.  Their inspiration stemmed from witnessing the power of storytelling to break down barriers and unite people during tumultuous times.

Motivated by a shared belief in the potential of storytelling to inspire empathy and drive social change, McCann, Consiglio, and their collaborators embarked on a journey to create Narrative 4.  They sought to harness the universal language of narrative to foster understanding and connection among individuals from diverse backgrounds, with the ultimate goal of building more compassionate and inclusive communities.

Narrative 4 quickly gained momentum and, recognising the universality of human experiences and the importance of cross-cultural dialogue, expanded its reach internationally - now working in 35 countries, with hubs in The US, Ireland, Israel, Palestine, Nigeria, and Mexico.

Today, Narrative 4's mission remains deeply rooted in the belief that storytelling has the power to transform lives and societies.  By facilitating exchanges of personal narratives and promoting empathetic listening, they empower individuals worldwide to recognise their shared humanity and work towards a more equitable and interconnected world.  Central to this mission is their dedication to working with young people and educators within educational settings.

Understanding the pivotal role of education in shaping future generations, Narrative 4 prioritises partnerships with schools and educational institutions globally.  using their core methodology, the 'Story Exchange', they engage with students and teachers through tailored workshops, curriculum integration, and immersive experiences designed to foster empathy, compassion, understanding, dialogue, and positive action.  By providing young people with the tools and opportunities to share their stories and listen to others, Narrative 4 equips them with essential skills for navigating an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

Through their work in education, Narrative 4 not only cultivates empathy but also nurtures critical thinking, communication skills, and cultural understanding among students. 

By empowering young people to embrace their own narratives and appreciate the perspectives of others, they lay the groundwork for a more compassionate and inclusive society, where individuals feel safe, secure, seen, and heard, and are better equipped to collaborate, empathise, and effect positive change.

There are four parts to a Narrative 4 Story Exchange:-

Preparing

In the weeks leading up to an exchange, trained staff (using N4 lesson plans) will guide students through a series of creative and practical activities that focus on listening skills, oracy skills, empathy, and story-telling.  Each activity works towards the students crafting their own stories that they will use in the upcoming exchange.

Sharing

On the day of the exchange staff will guide students through some practical and fun exercises to get the group working together, feeling safe within the group, feeling confident in themselves, setting group rules, and listening to each other.  Staff will then model how the Story Exchange works, and students will be paired up and will have time to share their story with their partner, and will actively listen and connect whilst their partner shares their own story.

Retelling

The whole group will come back together in a circle and each student will retell their partner's story, but in the first person - they will 'walk in their shoes'.  It's not a test of memory, but an exercise in empathy and relationship.  Connection is more important that precision!

Reflecting

Guided by the trained staff, students will reflect on how they feel, what it was like to 'walk in someone else's shoes', what it was like to have their own stories born witness to, and what they have learned from the Story Exchange.

The University of Chicago

Researchers from the University of Chicago collected data from 9th grade students at University Heights High School (UHHS) in the Bronx, New York, in Spring of 2016 and Spring of 2019.  Since 2016, all 9th grade students at UHHS have participated in story exchanges.  UHHS pioneered a student facilitator training program, gradually turning freshmen into Narrative 4 leaders by the time they reach their junior year.

Researchers found that in the two years since partnering with us, UHHS experienced:

• Increased attendance rates

• Increased graduation rates

• Decreased rates of suspension

See the study

Narrative 4 students in the US feel more supported, according to Yale University

In 2015, the Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University launched the Emotion Revolution Survey.  In this nationwide survey, researchers asked high school students about their emotions and experiences at school.

In contrast to many other schools, students at Narrative 4 schools experienced positive emotions more frequently than students in the national sample. The reported benefits were:

• Improved communication skills

• More positive relationships with teachers

• Feeling that teachers know their interests

See the study

Interventions – Building the Evidence Base

Narrative 4 Ireland has teamed up with researchers from the University of Limerick to expand the evidence base around the Story Exchange which is currently being prepared for publication in the European Journal of Teacher Education.

Gill, J & McMahon, J (2022). Teacher Perspectives of a Storytelling Teacher Training Intervention. [European Journal of Teacher Education].

Key findings:

• The programme enhanced student/teacher & professional relationships.

• The teachers found that their own empathy skills increased.

• Emphasised the importance of developing students social emotional skills systematically stating that it was ‘absolutely essential’.

Between September and December 2024 we will be working in 6 UK schools to train up staff and students to facilitate N4 Story Exchanges in their settings.  Each setting will recieve 3 training workshops.

Workshop 1 will be an introduction to Narrative Alchemy and Narrative 4's work, and participants will experience a Story Exchange

Workshop 2 will be a more in-depth look at the anatomy of the Story Exchange and an exploration of how they work

Workshop 3 will explore Skilled Interventions, as well as planning sessions on how to integrate the work into the school ecology.  Participants will also be introduced to the N4 Global Network - giving them access to in-person Story Exchanges with other participating UK schools, as well as online Story Exchanges with education settings around the world.

Between January and July 2025 each setting will run a number of Story Exchanges for their students.  We will work with them to plan and deliver bespoke sessions that work for their setting, and help to build community, connection, and collaboration.