STORY PREVIEW

2025

Stereotypical Stories

eduSOIL

Antrim

MENTOR

James Ayo

Step 1 FEEL

List the challenges or problems in your surroundings (school,neighbourhood etc.) that bothered you.

1. Stereotyping and racism. 2. People of colour being labelled as substance users/dealers, gang members, or involved in illegal activities simply because of where they come from.

State the problem chosen to work and why.

The issue we chose to address: Stereotyping and how it impacts people (e.g., being labeled as drug dealers). This is defined as: Racial profiling. We chose this issue because: It affects people like us, damages our self-esteem and confidence, and many others struggle with it too.

Who were the people affected by the problem? What were their primary concerns?

People affected: Primarily people of colour who experience negative assumptions about their character or past. Their concerns: Racial profiling, unfair judgment, and the inability to defend themselves against biased beliefs.

Step 2 Imagine

List ALL the different solutions you came up with.

Performing a rap. Showcasing a music video.

Which solution from those listed above did you choose to implement and why?

We chose to create a rap/song (instead of a music video) because it allows us to express ourselves fully. We envisioned that when the audience hears our completed song: They will feel connected and understand the issues of stereotyping.

Step 3DO

Describe very briefly the process of implementing your solution(s).

To create our song, our roles and responsibilities were: Jayden: rapping and performing Anashe: rapping and co-writing Our song is called: “Beyond the Label”

What was the result or impact of your project?

The project impacted us by making us more aware, confident, and empathetic. We feel that we have changed by learning to speak out against stereotypes and work together creatively. At our showcase event on March 29th, we reached (number) people through our live presentation. With our social engagement partner(s) we collaborated to share our message beyond our immediate community. We felt proud, validated, and motivated to continue raising awareness.

How many people were impacted by your solution(s)?

120

What did the impacted people have to say about your project? Provide 2 quotes or testimonials:

It really opened our eyes to how stereotypes harm mental health. I felt more connected to the issues faced by people of colour after hearing their song.

What challenges did you encounter while implementing your project, and how did you overcome them?

Challenges: Time pressure, stage fright, and coordinating everyone’s ideas. We used our superpowers of teamwork, creativity, and perseverance to overcome them by supporting each other, sharing tasks, and staying focused on our goal.

How long did it take to implement your solution?

MORE THAN 30 DAYS

Which global goals does your story align with?

Good health and well being

Please explain briefly why do you think so?

Because our project addresses mental health by challenging harmful stereotypes that negatively affect self-esteem and overall well-being.

Step 4 SHARE

How did you share your project with your school and community? Who did you share your project with? What was their response?

We participated in the Art For Change showcase on March 29th, performing our song for an audience. The audience responses were encouraging and gave us hope for the future. With our social engagement partner(s) we plan to collaborate further to spread awareness, possibly through online platforms and community events.

Approximately how many people did you share your story of change with?

More than 100

Briefly share your plan to sustain the impact of your project?

We plan to perform or present at more community events, schools, and youth gatherings. We aim to record our song and share it on social media to reach a wider audience.

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