In 2026, during the YouLead Summit, the communications partnership of Together for Impact reached a new level with the launch of Stories for Impact – an initiative designed to help transform YouLead Africa’s 2026 delegates and partners from passive participants into active storytellers and advocates.
By Vibeke Quaade
The idea behind Stories for Impact is simple. Each participant represents not only themselves but also a wider community, organisation or network. By equipping participants with practical storytelling skills, the initiative sought to extend the summit’s reach and impact beyond the venue while also strengthening participants’ ability to apply these skills in other contexts.
The programme was facilitated by Fiona Kemigisha from Khama Digital Content Hub and it combined two pre-summit online training sessions with follow-up daily engagement activities during the event itself. Here, the participants were introduced to storytelling as a leadership tool – one that can help shape public discourse, share learning and inspire action.
Stories for Impact encouraged delegates to realise that communication, and social media in particular, is not just an optional activity but is an important part of leadership as it can help shift perspectives, connect people across borders, turn conversations into meaningful change - and articulate the authentic values, interests and strategic direction of their work. The approach was built around a simple framework: Story + Visual + Value. Participants learned how to create authentic and engaging content by combining personal experiences, strong visuals and clear messages. The focus was on positive and responsible storytelling that encourages dialogue, shares learning and highlights solutions, rather than focusing on individuals or divisions. As Fiona Kemigisha says,
Stories are integral to every piece of work, no matter the space you occupy, whether you are an entertainer, researcher or entrepreneur. The ability to communicate simply and meaningfully with a specific audience on social media is often assumed. We also tend to assume that impact is measured by likes, comments, or going viral. In reality, impact is clear and intentional messaging that reaches and resonates with the people it is meant for - that is how online communities are built. The good news is that storytelling for impact is a skill that can be learned, practised, and refined.
Although Stories for Impact was developed in the context of YouLead and youth leadership, its potential extends much further. The methodology can be applied to conferences, learning programmes, development projects and professional networks seeking to empower participants as communicators and advocates.
Read the July 2026 newsletter about the Together for Impact partnership between MS TCDC and Danida Fellowship Centre.
