Human beings are already analysts and problem-solvers in their own right and this inner potential can be unleashed with the support of empowerment programs that enable them to believe in themselves and their capacity to understand and overcome the problems they care most about.

In 2021, we were witnesses of the magic that happens when women discover this inner potential through the story of Asmaa Rashed, a young Syrian refugee whose self-confidence and psychological ownership was boosted with the support of the We Love Reading's program. Consequently, she was able to transform her adversity into an opportunity for self-growth that led her to become a change-maker in her community using reading as a bridge to lift up the lives of adolescent girls in her community by nurturing their sense of self-worth and their ability to determine their own choices. This inspiring story became the award-winning documentary film, The Neighborhood Storyteller, touching on gender equality, girl education, women leadership, mental health wellbeing, displacement, and the healing powers of literacy and community.

The film is part of an advocacy package ready to be used by organizations working to empower refugees and/or women and girls in vulnerable situations. With this emotionally engaging resource, organizations will be able to humanize the problems they are working to solve and spark dialogue that effectively communicates their vision and leads to collective action that amplifies the impact of their programs so that more women and girls can transform their fear into courage, their pain into strength, and break the barriers that hold them back from thriving.