Rewrite the Story – Empowering Young Girls
Our online workshop titled “Empowering Young Girls: Rewrite the Story”, facilitated by Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist Melike Güray, was successfully completed in recent months with the participation of young women who are passionate about gender equality, media literacy, and social change.
This educational initiative was designed to help young girls explore and understand different forms of violence and discrimination they may encounter in daily life or through media representation. Through guided discussions, group work, and a collaborative learning environment, participants built awareness, developed critical thinking skills, and discovered creative methods for voicing their perspectives confidently and safely.
The workshop focused particularly on media narratives, encouraging participants to question, analyze, and rewrite real news stories relating to gender-based violence. By reframing the narrative through a lens of equality, justice, and empowerment, the program aimed to inspire transformative thinking and constructive storytelling practices.
⸻
Program Approach and Learning Goals
During the workshop, participants worked in small groups to examine actual news articles and discuss how traditional reporting can sometimes normalize, romanticize, or minimize violence against women and girls. Instead, participants were guided to design peace-oriented, non violent, and empowering storylines, encouraging more responsible media representation.
Participants were encouraged to reflect on thought-provoking questions such as:
- How could the story have ended differently?
- What other actions or responses could the young girl have chosen or been supported to choose?
- What role could community members, institutions, families, or authorities have played to prevent harm or change the outcome?
- How can media reporting contribute to a culture of safety, equality, and support rather than fear or blame?
These discussions helped young participants understand that media is not only a tool for information, but also a platform for social transformation, collective responsibility, and advocacy for human rights.
⸻
Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants gained:
- Increased awareness about gender-based violence and its media representation • Improved media literacy and critical reading skills
- Confidence in expressing personal and collective voices
- Experience in collaborative writing and social-impact storytelling
- A deeper understanding of the importance of equality-focused journalism
This program stands as part of our ongoing efforts to support youth empowerment, raise awareness about gender-based inequality, and encourage creative activism in safe, constructive ways. Through initiatives like this, we aim to strengthen future generations of female leaders, storytellers, and changemakers.
