Narrative 4 Inc

TO FOSTER EMPATHY BY BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF STORIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

IN 2021, N4 STORY EXCHANGE PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 56,000 ESTIMATED PARTICIPANTS AROUND THE WORLD. WE BASE OUR STORY EXCHANGES ON THE CASEL CORE SEL STANDARDS AND AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELLOR ASSOCIATION'S STANDARDS. WE ADDED AN ESTIMATED 1200 FACILITATORS TO OUR NETWORK AND ADDED OVER 200 NEW SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS. AS OF DECEMBER 2021, N4 HAS OVER 500 SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES. 91% OF STORY EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED AN INCREASE IN EMPATHY POST-STORY EXCHANGE, AS MEASURED BY OUR POST-EXCHANGE SURVEY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. 89% OF PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED MOTIVATION TOWARD POSITIVE ACTION-TAKING POST STORY EXCHANGE. IN 2021, WE RECRUITED A VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS FOR NORTH AMERICA TO ACCELERATE THE EXPANSION OF N4 PROGRAMS TO NEW GEOGRAPHIES AND SCHOOLS. DURING THE YEAR, WE HAVE CARRIED OUT OVER 250 VIRTUAL STORY EXCHANGES AND WEBINARS, ALIGNED TO OUR GOALS SET FOR THE YEAR.

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS A KEY DELIVERY MODEL TO ACCELERATE THE REACH TO EXPONENTIAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS. WE COMPLETED THE DIGITAL AUDIT IN OCTOBER 21 WHERE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE TO DELIVER ON OUR ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. THE TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE INCLUDES INTEGRATING AND CUSTOMIZING FIVE SAAS PLATFORMS. THE PLAN IS TO LAUNCH THE PLATFORM IN 3RD QUARTER OF 2022, ALIGNED TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE PLATFORM WILL HOST OUR PROGRAMS (STAND-ALONE BENEFIT), PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL LOCAL AND GLOBAL CONNECTIONS (NETWORK EFFECT). IT SERVES TO (1) INCREASE THE DEPTH OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, (2) ACCELERATE OUR ABILITY TO SCALE UP WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR STANDARDS OF DELIVERY AND EXECUTION OF PROGRAMMING AND (3) TRACK THE PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIORS OF OUR USERS AS WELL AS HELP MEASURE THE EFFICACY OF OUR PROGRAMS (OUR IMPACT). IT WILL BE A DIGITAL HOME FOR GLOBAL CHANGEA PLACE WHERE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD CAN CONNECT AND INSPIRE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE TRASH TO TREASURE INITIATIVE, STARTED IN FEBRUARY 2021, HAS GROWN TO BECOME A COMMUNITY CENTER. N4 RAN A STORY EXCHANGE IN JOE SLOVO TOWNSHIP. THE STORY EXCHANGE IDENTIFIED THE SHARED PROBLEMS OF FOOD INSECURITY, LITTERED PUBLIC SPACES, AND A LACK OF SELF-ESTEEM FROM BEING UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ONESELF AND FAMILY. A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND N4 FACILITATOR WORKED WITH N4 TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, "WHAT IF PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GATHER RECYCLABLES AND TRADE THEM FOR FOOD?" ALL THREE PROBLEMS THAT EMERGED IN THE STORY EXCHANGE COULD BE ADDRESSED AT ONCE. THE CENTER PROVIDES ON A WEEKLY AVERAGE; GROCERIES WORTH 1,100 USD, RECYCLES AN AVERAGE OF 205KG WORTH OF TRASH, FEED AND TUTOR AN AVERAGE OF 102 KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY. FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 2022, THE CENTER HAS TAKEN OUT OVER 3,000KG WORTH OF PLASTIC BOTTLES, CARDBOARD, AND WASTE. WE HAVE ALSO COMMENCED A SKILLS AND CRAFT ACQUISITION PROGRAM WHERE 30 RESIDENTS ARE TRAINED IN SEWING, PLUMBING AND BASIC COMPUTER APPRECIATION EVERY SIX MONTHS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE PROVIDING PROGRAM RELATED ADVISORY SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF CURRICULUM BUILDING, FUNDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO AN AFFILIATED MISSION-ALIGNED ORGANIZATION.