b'Narrative 4 IrelandIn 2020, N4 Ireland doubled its facilitatorStories can shape our network and expanded the roll out offuture with research the Story Exchange Programme acrossshowing that telling the country. N4 Ireland currently hasstories of struggles 302 trained facilitators working in 120that turn out well schools and 47 youth organisationscan give people the across the country.hope they need to live productive lives in the In a world beset by COVID-19, the work ofaftermath of major life Narrative 4 Ireland has never been so important. Demandchallenges. for N4 Irelands training has increased as schools reopen. N4- Dr. James Lawlor, Regional Ireland responded strategically by launching a new onlineDirector, Narrative 4 Ireland training course, building a new website, narrative4.ie, andNarrative 4 Middle Eastrefining their facilitator toolkit.We\'re pleased to be the recipient of a Public Diplomacy Storytelling as a vehicle for connection and wellbeing,Grant from the US Embassy in Israel. These grants serve and N4s core methodology, the story exchange, fit withinas one-time opportunities to support the guidelines issued by Irelands National Educationalprojects that will be sustainable after"It\'s no mystery that Psychology Service wellbeing criteria and the new juniorthe project period is over. Our goalNarrative 4\'s work cycle wellbeing indicators. is to launch our train-the-trainerfocuses on the broad program with Israeli educatorsand intersecting who will run story exchanges withthemes of faith, identity, students in their own schoolsimmigration, violence, and communities. Our virtualand the environment. N4 Irelandglobal story exchange programAnd what better place (Below) A story exchange in progress at an inner citywill pair Israeli and American schoolsto engage with these high school in Limerick, Ireland.to share their stories, build empathy,powerful themes than (Right) Student Saoirse Exton speaking about herpromote cultural understanding, and practicein the "land of milk and experience of community organising at the N4speaking English. Newly trained story exchangehoney?" N4 will meet Ireland\'s Empathy Conference August 2019.facilitators will be supported and mentored by twothe growing demand previously certified Israeli Master Practitioners whofor story exchanges will share best practices and help them developin Israel by training a programming.diverse cohort of Arab and Jewish educators and connecting US and Israeli students together through their colorful and emanant stories."Lee Keylock, Director of Global Programs, Narrative 412 13'