Story of Us: A Creative Workshop Series Supporting Literacy, Inclusion & Mental Wellbeing

Halyna Budilova
Sep 29
2 min read

At Little Beetle Press, we believe that storytelling is more than just words on a page - it’s a bridge between people, cultures, and generations. That’s why we created Story of Us, a creative workshop series designed to support literacy development, mental wellbeing, and community connection through storytelling and collage art.

This arts-based programme is particularly impactful for migrant communities, multicultural groups, and young people, including teenagers and families navigating life in a new culture. It also offers strong alignment with corporate social responsibility (CSR) priorities such as inclusion, mental health, and community engagement.

What Is Story of Us?

Story of Us is a series of 8 structured workshops that guide participants in creating personal and collective stories through creative writing and collage art practice. Each session offers a safe, welcoming environment for participants to explore their identities, improve their English, and build confidence through storytelling.

Led by author and publisher Halyna Budilova and visual artist Alla Shmyhovska, the programme is designed to be inclusive of all language levels and accessible to children, teens, and adults alike.

Key Benefits of the Programme

Improves English literacy in a meaningful, applied way
Supports mental health and emotional expression through creativity
Fosters intergenerational learning and family participation
Strengthens cultural identity and connection to heritage
Promotes empathy, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding
Creates lasting impact with an optional printed community book

Proven Impact in Ireland

The Story of Us workshops have already been successfully delivered in Ireland with Ukrainian and Roma communities, in partnership with local organisations. The outcomes speak for themselves:

Participants developed practical communication and writing skills
Many experienced increased self-esteem and emotional resilience
Two professionally published books were created, capturing migration stories and cultural heritage

Why It Matters for CSR and Corporate Partners

If your organisation is looking to enhance its CSR strategy in Ireland, Story of Us offers a ready-to-go, community engagement initiative with tangible outcomes. It aligns with corporate goals such as: