Storytelling Lab

As part of our efforts to raise awareness on the causes of bilharzia and ways to prevent it, we have introduced the concept of the Bilharzia Storytelling Lab.

The lab builds on the human-centered design thinking approach, developed by Dalberg Media, a mission-driven communications and experience consultancy. This approach empowers local communities by placing them at the center of the solution-building process. By bringing together local storytellers to work with experts from health organizations and non-profits, the lab fosters collective, sustained action to develop both creative and effective solutions driven by the people, for their own community. The three main risk groups as defined by WHO are domestic and agricultural workers and school-aged children. These are the three risk groups that the lab addressed in developing storytelling projects to ignite behavioral change.

In 2024, the Bilharzia Storytelling Community of Practice (CoP) was established to build on the momentum of our storytelling labs and foster ongoing engagement among storytellers, health and communication experts, and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany partners. Our company's commitment to eliminating schistosomiasis is deeply integrated into the CoP, providing a collaborative space where dedicated professionals can share resources, enhance their skills, and push creative boundaries for lasting social change. The CoP plays a crucial role in sustaining innovation and implementing effective solutions across communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda affected by schistosomiasis.

The Bilharzia Storytelling Lab 2024 took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 18th until March 22nd, with valuable input and guidance from the Ethiopia Ministry of Health and the Nala Foundation. The winning team was awarded €10,000 to pilot their solution, which employed theatre for development—a community-based approach using performance to facilitate social change. The solution was piloted with factory workers at the Metehara sugar factory, with strong support and active involvement from the factory management. It was also implemented with community members in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. In 2023 alone, more than 2,700 cases of bilharzia were registered at the factory hospital laboratory, and on average, seven new cases were reported daily until July 2024. Many of these individuals previously had no access to training or information on prevention, underscoring the urgent need for such intervention.

Following the pilot, the play has been integrated into the daily curriculum for factory workers, consistently reinforcing educational messages on schistosomiasis prevention. To extend the message beyond the factory workers, posters and brochures with schistosomiasis prevention messaging were also distributed in nearby districts, and the play's video was shared with the Ministry of Health to support their schistosomiasis campaigns.

Bilharzia Storytelling Lab Impressions

The 2nd Bilharzia Storytelling Lab took place in Kigali, Rwanda from November 28th until December 22nd, 2022. The chosen winning solution is a specially designed school notebook that educates children and parents about schistosomiasis. In addition to the notebook, workshops for parents and teacher training sessions were organized to ensure a holistic approach, recognizing that children are more likely to adopt new behaviors when they receive guidance from both teachers and parents, who play key roles in shaping their attitudes. The intervention received invaluable guidance from the END Fund, Rwanda NGOs Forum and Rwanda Biomedical Center, ensuring the approach was tailored to local needs and had maximum impact. 

The Winning team has realized their project with 10.000 Euro awarded by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The project was launched in the Bugesera district of Rwanda and has reached over 2500 students in 3 schools with information on how to prevent getting schistosomiasis. Building on its success, the intervention is currently being expanded to Gatsibo district, with the aim of reaching even more communities.

Our 1st Storytelling Lab was held virtually in Kenya in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The winning concept—a card game to educate young children through playful learning—was developed as a behavior change communication tool for school-aged children in Schistosomiasis-endemic communities. Created by creative practitioners "Bilha Toto," the tool uses storytelling cards and interactive activities to empower middle school pupils (grades 4–6) with knowledge and strategies to reduce infection risks. A pilot intervention in Kwale County in November 2021 involved 300 students and demonstrated positive results when integrated with existing health interventions.

Ethiopia

• About 19,000 people were exposed to the intervention.
• As reported by the Metehara sugar factory, bilharzia cases at the factory dropped by 57%, from 7 to 3 per day post-intervention.
• 76% of surveyed individuals gained critical preventive knowledge; 93% adopted key preventive actions.
• Bilharzia prevention is now a non-negotiable part of every factory employee’s training.
• Factory and hospital management took full ownership, instituting daily health briefings for lasting change.

Rwanda

• About 2500 children have been exposed to the intervention in the district.
• Amongst these children, 98% of ones surveyed, now know about bilharzia – a remarkable increase from just 14.7% awareness before the intervention.
• 85% of children can now identify activities leading to bilharzia infection, compared to less than 20% pre-intervention.
• All 3 schools have established bilharzia clubs, empowering students to monitor younger peers and lead regular activities focused on schistosomiasis prevention.