My Story was developed to reduce xenophobia and discrimination among young Arubans through creating a space for local and immigrant youth to learn about each other’s lives. Sixteen youth were paired with each other, with at least one immigrant and one local youth in each group.
During 6 sessions, the youth learned about equality and children’s rights, gained skills in creating and interpreting artwork, and acted in a short film about integration, all the while creating strong and meaningful ties with each other. In the first session, the youth attended workshops on equality and children’s rights, providing a foundation for discussions on integration. In the second session, both local and immigrant youth visited each other at home, and learned about their partner’s family composition, leisure activities, and their story on the island. During the third session, the youth participated in a workshop on artistic creation where they learned painting and acting techniques. In the fourth session, the young people created works of art that represented their experiences in the program and their thoughts on integration.
The artwork was presented at an Art-Expo during the premiere of a short film that the youth also created. Each pair of locals and immigrants was connected in the fifth session with a film teacher, who helped the youth write a script for a short film about integration and their experience with the program. The short movie was recorded during the sixth session, and was shown in the local IMAX cinema on June 28, 2024. The premiere attended by the Prime Minister of Aruba, members of parliament, numerous non-profit organizations, government departments, and school administrators and educators. The youth are shown enjoying their time together, having learned each other’s stories and the importance of integration.