The cycle of activities for the program “Growing Up Safely: The Power of Stories and Narratives in Protecting Children”, implemented by Home-Start Hellas in collaboration with Storymentor, has been successfully completed. As part of the program, eight storytelling workshops were carried out across three cities, engaging more than 90 children of preschool and primary school age. The result was the creation of eight digital books capturing the children’s stories, emotions and reflections.
During the workshops, the children had the opportunity to discuss themes such as respect, friendship and emotions, and to express themselves creatively through story-making and illustration. The activities were facilitated by psychologist and author Katerina Tzortzakaki, who guided the children as they collaborated, co-created and shared their own voices. The digital books that emerged are filled with imagination, honesty and wise words that reveal how children view topics often considered “difficult.”
Overall, the program highlighted the importance of treating children as equal participants and offering them the space to express themselves freely—especially when discussing values, boundaries, emotions and ways to prevent violence. This creative process strengthens emotional understanding and also helps build a safe environment where storytelling becomes a tool for empowerment and self-expression.
