R-Lab: “From inherited history to created narrative (Orality, Storytelling, Memory and Migration)”

Thessaloniki Greece, 17/9/2026, Workshop, Ledji Bellow & Volodia Descalzi

R-Lab - Refugee Laboratory / Erasmus + Project KA210-ADU

THESSALONIKI GREECE

‘“From inherited history to created narrative (Orality, Storytelling, Memory and Migration)’ 
 

Workshop for teachers and youth facilitators
 

Thessaloniki Greece, 17 September 2026, 18 :00-20 :30
Venue : Thessaloniki Solidarity Center, Ioanni Koletti 25D, 1st Floor, (opposite One Salonica)

Facilitators Ledji Bellow, Storyteller & Intercultural Mediator 
Language Support & Co-host: Volodia Descalzi, Socio-cultural facilitator

Offered by SINGA (Fr)
Supported by SolidarityNow

Language: English

FREE.  Limited spaces. APPLICATIONS HERE
Priority to members of the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-Gr)

Short description
This workshop offers a participatory experience exploring orality, storytelling, memory, and migration.
Participants are invited to reflect on how stories are passed down, how they travel and transform, and how they can, in turn, become a personal or collective creation.
The session opens with a traditional Togolese tale told by Lêdji Bellow—first in her native language, then in French.
Participants then experience the relay of story transmission, revealing what memory retains, alters, or forgets.
The journey continues with three prompt themes centered on migration: "What I Carried With Me" invites participants to recall an object, a language, a song, a scent, a tradition, or a memory; "The Invisible Border" prompts a reflection on boundaries; and "The Color of Memory" explores memory through senses, imagery, and color.
Drawing from these evocative prompts, participants craft a story—individually, in pairs, or in groups of four—before sharing it with the group.
The workshop emphasizes active listening, freedom of participation, multilingualism, and the power of fiction. No experience is required, and there is no expectation to share personal or traumatic stories.

Lêdji Bellow is a storyteller and intercultural mediator specializing in the transmission of African oral and textile heritage. Originally from Togo, she lived for 35 years in New Caledonia—a multicultural territory she considers as a true living laboratory for co-existence. This extensive field experience, within the framework of the Matignon Accords and the building of a plural society, deeply enriched her understanding of multiple identities, cultural legacies, and intercultural dynamics. Following a background in cultural promotion and communication at the Kanak Cultural Development Agency (ADCK) and over twenty years of teaching socio-cultural education, she developed an approach rooted in transmission, mediation, and building bridges across cultures. Now based in France, she continues this work through Héritage Bellow, an association dedicated to honoring the artistic and cultural legacy of Togolese singer Bella Bellow. She designs and leads workshops, talks, and exhibitions centered on storytelling, oral traditions, textiles, and living heritage. Her work is grounded in a single conviction: connecting people, honoring heritage, and revealing talent. She uses storytelling, oral traditions, and textiles as vehicles for dialogue, inclusion, and dignity—drawing out personal narratives, collective knowledge, and creative imagination. Today, she also heads Lêdji Bellow Consulting, leveraging her cross-continental expertise—spanning Africa, Oceania, and France—alongside an extensive artistic and community network to support projects and foster peaceful, inclusive, and creative co-existence.

Organised by: Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network - North Greece Office
INFO: info@theatroedu.gr / 2106541600
 

R-LAB Partners

SINGA Paris, France (Coordinator)
La Transplanisphere France
Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (TENet-Gr), Greece
Sur Mesure Germany