Tales of Humanity

By Sharon Moreham

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Community,

NZ $2,875 pledged

49 people pledged

Closed

NZ $2,800 minimum target

This campaign was successful and closed on 26/09/2013 at 8:58 PM.

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About

Tales Of Humanity

Project 2013-08-26 03:30:37 +1200

Everyone deserves a voice.
And everyone has magic inside them to share for the benefit of all.

UPDATE 2: Thank you everyone for your awesome support in so many ways. We now have a fabulous new reward - a commission for a unique work of art from the award-winning artist and stellar storyteller Aralyn Doiron! Proceeds from the Trade Me auction go towards this campaign. Check out the updates tab for more info or visit here.

Kia ora! I'm Sharon, inspirational storyteller, lover of community and culture. I believe sharing stories and creative expression plays an important part in recovery and new beginnings. Following the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, I co-founded volunteer group, The Story Collective, to work with story to foster understanding, connection, wellbeing, creativity, learning and healing within the community.

So that The Story Collective can do even more awesome work, I am off to study full-time for five weeks at the renowned International School of Storytelling in Cape Town, South Africa. The course, which begins at the end of September, teaches me how to craft and tell real life personal stories so that they can be a gift to listeners with the power to touch, transform and inspire others.

While away I will put my new studies into practice at Kufunda Village in Zimbabwe. Through listening and learning from their experience and wisdom, I will work with them and craft accounts to share their stories of courage, resilience and sustainable community living.
After my return, The Story Collective will use my newly acquired skills to continue to work with diverse individuals and communities to celebrate their lives, and share their life experiences and truth - stories to grow, heal and connect by. This work will be with local and international communities.

To assist me on this journey I am inviting pledges towards $2800 which will cover the Telling True Life Tales course fees only. The knowledge I gain will be shared with the Collective I work with in Christchurch (and beyond) to enable us to continue with stronger skill levels, revealing the stories, wisdom and experiences of humanity behind the news headlines and to celebrate the extraordinary in the ordinary of life.

Thank you so much for your support - you are helping to make a difference by giving people a voice and allowing their experiences to become inspirational to so many more. Every little bit counts, so how about skipping that triple shot flat white for a couple of days and contributing to a very worthy cause. I'm fine with you also guilt-tripping your partner/workmates/friends into it as well.
Do you want to know more about the power of story? Check out what Kiwi actor, Cliff Curtis has to say about the role of storytelling in activating a more caring world and understanding the context of our lives on the Global Oneness Project website: http://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/interviews/storytelling

UPDATE 1: Thank you so much to everyone for your support - you're totally amazing! Please check out the update and little video message under the updates tab above. Thank you!

Comments

Updates 4

Sorry folks. I meant to say in my last message that I am really looking forward to getting in touch and providing your rewards for you. I understand that the lovely peeps at PledgeMe will provide me with your email addresses soon and then I can sort out how to get them to you.

In the meantime, those of you I am taking to Table Mountain and Robbin Island, it's time to sort through and look for a favourite pic of yourself!

I will be fitting in visits to the beach, Table Top Mountain and Robbin Island at the weekends in amongst my homework, so my apologies for any delay as I will be gradually working through these and the other rewards over the coming 5 weeks.

Look forward to talking to you soon!

Warm wishes and many thanks, Sharon

Thank you, thank you, thank you all you amazing pledgers, spread the worders, and believers. We made our funding goal on Thursday night - you are totally awesome!

And a special thank you to Aralyn Doiron who will be enjoying creating a commissioned art work for the lucky winner of the Trade Me auction. Yay!

I'm blown away and humbled by all the support and excitement that you and so many people have offered during this campaign. It is very inspiring for us as we step further into the vision and work of The Story Collective. And it also gives me strength as I sit hear writing to you just a few hours before class begins on the first day, feeling rather nervous!

And finally, my sincere apologies for the delay in this message... I have been travelling and am now 'connected' back up to our virtual world after several days.

Take care and I hope that I may see you around at some of The Story Collective events and activities on my return - check out our Facebook page for updates. As a little thank you I'd like to invite you to our special Christmas Celebration, Wednesday 4 December, 6.30pm at the Avon Loop Community Cottage, 28 Hurley Street with a special guest storyteller and poet, Clare Coburn from Melbourne. We'll be sharing stories, fabulous food and great company. Drop us line at [email protected] if you have any questions.

With deep gratitude, Sharon xx

Thank you everyone for your amazing support. I am deeply touched and humbled by everyone's generosity, love and inspiration in it's many forms, and also all the excited support for the vision of The Story Collective.

NEWS FLASH: The stunningly talented storyteller and artist Aralyn Dorion has offered an amazing new reward! Aralyn will paint the next in her acclaimed "Metaphor" series of reverse-glass paintings on recycled windows especially for you! You can even let her know your preferences for the work. Works from this series of award-winning paintings are found in collections around the world. This is a chance for an incredible piece for yourself or a very special gift for someone.

This unique opportunity is available via an auction on Trade Me. Click here to find out more.

Please tell all your friends and family about it and anyone you know who loves art! This is an amazing opportunity to gain a unique piece for a great price and support the healing magic of story throughout our communities at the same time.

Here is an example of one of her most recent works in the series:

Did you see the buffalos? The hills are textured with a subtle reflective gold and contain a secret detail that can be seen only from a certain angle. How cool!

The amount of the successful bid will be transferred to this PledgeMe campaign at the completion of the auction. The auction finishes at 8.30pm Thursday 26 September.

Thanks once again for your awesomeness!

Much gratitude, Sharon xx

Kia ora

A massive thanks to you all for pledging, spreading the word and all your encouragement and support. It's been amazing!

Thanks to you, we are almost half way to our target amount with just under half our time remaining. Already, I have been invited to participate in a collaborative youth project in Zimbabwe to share and offer what I learn. You are making a real difference to people's lives.

So thank you once again, you have been an incredible inspiration to me in bringing our vision for the place of stories for connection, learning, understanding and healing in our communities into being.

Keep spreading the word and inspiring others - you're totally awesome!

Much gratitude, Sharon xx

Pledgers 49

Warren Nairn

12/09/2013 at 9:11pm

Celia Stewart

11/09/2013 at 10:47pm

Steve Ryman

10/09/2013 at 9:54pm

Hermione Rivison

10/09/2013 at 9:22pm

Filiz

09/09/2013 at 9:58pm

Paul Moreham

09/09/2013 at 8:46pm

Daphne

09/09/2013 at 3:50pm

Anonymous pledger

09/09/2013 at 3:22pm

Robert & Bertha Tobias

09/09/2013 at 2:47pm

Sally Lovell-Smith

08/09/2013 at 8:21pm

Julie Arts

07/09/2013 at 10:04pm

Anonymous pledger

07/09/2013 at 2:47pm

Anonymous pledger

02/09/2013 at 9:08pm

Deborah Sim

01/09/2013 at 8:41pm

Leolie Ennis

01/09/2013 at 1:21pm

Alec& Fran Sole

01/09/2013 at 11:56am

Alec& Fran Sole

01/09/2013 at 11:55am

Alec& Fran Sole

01/09/2013 at 11:44am

Nancy

31/08/2013 at 1:28pm

Followers 2

Followers of Tales of Humanity

Nancy Nichols Acevedo

Richard Moreham