Role: Producer 

Client: Youth UnMuted

Timeframe: January 2021-January 2022

Overview: Produced, edited, and arranged the "Now You Hear Us" podcast, coordinating the involvement of forcibly displaced youth and organizing speakers. Managed the entire production process to ensure their unfiltered viewpoints and narratives were shared with a global audience. Part of Youth UnMuted's broader efforts, this project addressed the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed to elevate the voices of young refugees, ensuring their experiences and perspectives were heard and valued.

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Situation

Forcibly displaced youth often have limited opportunities to share their stories and experiences, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which exacerbated their isolation. The challenge was to create an accessible and impactful platform that could adapt to pandemic restrictions, providing these youth a means to express themselves and reach a global audience.

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Our Approach

Phase 1: Conceptualization and Need Assessment

• Regrouping and Building Partnerships: Returned to the Bay Area in summer 2019 to focus on personal growth and build new partnerships.

• Idea Generation: Reconnected with youth from the Youth UnMuted network who had moved from Greece and now had asylum in Europe.

• Podcast Concept: Discussed challenges and issues deeply cared about by the youth, leading to the creation of the podcast as a medium for direct storytelling.

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Phase 2: Establishing the Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

• Formation: Established a Youth Advisory Board consisting of four young women from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

• Workshops: Held virtual workshops incorporating creative writing, interactive storytelling exercises, and mindfulness techniques to create a safe space for expression.

• YAB Role: Oversaw themes and topics, lent their voices, and facilitated communication with other displaced youth.

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Phase 3: Production and Launch

• Episode Production: Produced a total of six episodes reflecting the authentic voices and experiences of the youth.

• Pandemic Adaptation: Progressed organically despite pandemic challenges, culminating in the release of the first episode.

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Results

• Platform for Expression: Created a powerful medium for storytelling and advocacy.

• Educational Impact: Incorporated podcast episodes into social justice curriculums in Bay Area middle schools, high schools, and community colleges.

• Empathy and Awareness: Helped students understand and empathize with the struggles of forcibly displaced youth.

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Now You Hear Us stands as a testament to the adaptability and innovation of Youth UnMuted and the commitment to empowering forcibly displaced youth. Through this podcast, a powerful medium for storytelling and advocacy was created, amplifying the voices of young refugees and ensuring their experiences are shared on a global scale.