Projects Projects Homehome3 home2 home1 Survivor-Centred Visual Narratives The Survivor-Centred Visual Narratives project proposes a new, arts-based way of gathering and commemorating the experiences of genocide and mass atrocity survivors, one that places survivors' well-being, agency, and cooperation at its centre. Our purpose is not to develop a blueprint for testimony collection but instead to restore agency [...] Research ClustersResearch Clusters Iraq / SyriaIraq / SyriaRwandaRwandaHolocaustHolocaustYugoslav WarsYugoslav WarsTurtle IslandTurtle Island Projects View projects outputs Resources Check available resources Contact Us Send us a message! What’s NewBlog All | awards | book launch | conferences | events | exhibits | feature | films | interview | news | presentation | publication | research clusters | resources | student engagement | webinar | workshopFilter byAll awards book launch conferences events exhibits feature films interview news presentation publication research clusters resources student engagement webinar workshop ‘Visualizing Survivor’s Voices’ panel hosted by NIOD at SPUI25, Amsterdam – June 18, 2025events13 [...] ResourcesResources EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES →WEBINARS →TOOLKITS → Our project is committed to creating adaptable and flexible educational resources in English, French, and other languages so that teachers can feel confident and knowledgeable teaching about genocides and mass traumas as part of the curriculum. Many of the resources on this page are in-progress and will be updated [...] Contact UsContact Us We would love to hear from you. Direct Contact Centre for Global Studies University of Victoria 3800 Finnerty Road Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8P 5C2 (250) 721-7321 Dr. Charlotte Schallié Project Lead & Co-Director schallie@uvic.ca Dr. Andrea Webb Project Co-Director andrea.webb@ubc.ca Jennifer Sauter Project Manager pmvisual@uvic.ca Projects View projects outputs Resources Check available [...] Klaus & GiladComing soon Graphic NovelsThe graphic novels created through this project emerge from the relationships between survivors, artists, and scholars. This visual approach to gathering testimony centres the voice and agency of survivors and presents accessible pathways to learning with empathy. FilmsThis project takes up documentary filmmaking as a way of sharing the creative process developed by artists and survivors as they co-create graphic narratives around survivor testimony. In addition to the graphic novels, the films are a resource for educating about and preventing human rights abuses in the future. Rose & MiriamComing soon About Us RwandaThe Rwandan SCVN research cluster will create two graphic narratives focusing on repairing community relationships following mass violence. Yugoslav WarsThe Yugoslav Wars SCVN research cluster will interrogate state-sponsored histories of these conflicts and their commemorative practices, focusing on how gender-based experiences violence have been erased from the narrative. IraqThe Iraq & Syria SCVN project cluster will create two graphic narratives that reflect on mass violence under ISIS occupation, Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship, and the survival of a young person in the Syrian prison system. Turtle IslandThe Turtle Island SCVN research cluster will produce two graphic narratives based on survivor testimony that reflect on the impact of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous individuals and communities. WebinarsWebinars The webinar series created in partnership with the UBC-V Public Humanities Hub are an opportunity to explore the topics, methods, and issues that are critical to the goals of the SCVN project. Following the successful 2023 series exploring The Ethics of Trauma-Informed Research, we are now pleased to announce the 2024 webinar series: Art [...] Awards & NominationsAwards & Nominations Winner Emmie Arbel. Die Farbe der Erinnerung/ Emmie Arbel. The Colour of Memory 2024 | Best Young Adult Book in the month of February. Awarded by Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur (German Academy for Children’s and Youth Literature) But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust 2023 | [...] NewslettersNewsletters For project updates and insights you can find pdf versions of past newsletters here, beginning with our inaugural newsletter in Fall 2023. {{ vc_btn: title=Subscribe+to+our+email+list&style=3d&color=orange&size=lg&align=center&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fvisualnarratives.org%252Fmailchimp-subscribe%252F%7Ctitle%3AMailchimp%2520Subscribe }} Mailchimp SubscribeSubscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * /* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */ Our LogoOur Logo While a logo design may seem like a straightforward undertaking, the SCVN project is uniquely positioned to consider the unexpected impacts of visual media. When working with communities who continue to be misrepresented or stereotyped, it is doubly important to keep in mind that images are not neutral. Images carry the weight of [...] Holocaust – Color of Memory. Holocaust – Palm Springs/Berlin. Holocaust – Two Roses. Holocaust. Our PartnersOur Partners Our VisionOur Vision The first priority of the Survivor-Centred Visual Narratives project is to uphold our duty of care to the survivors of genocide and mass atrocity with whom we work. Without this commitment to care, the project cannot move forward. When a survivor chooses to share their testimony, they are not simply imparting information but [...] Iraq / Syria. SyriaThe Iraq & Syria SCVN project cluster will create two graphic narratives that reflect on mass violence under ISIS occupation, Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship, and the survival of a young person in the Syrian prison system. Turtle Island – Indians Do CryThe Turtle Island SCVN research cluster will produce two graphic narratives based on survivor testimony that reflect on the impact of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous individuals and communities. Turtle Island – Dorothy VisserThe Turtle Island SCVN research cluster will produce two graphic narratives based on survivor testimony that reflect on the impact of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous individuals and communities. Our StoriesOur Stories The comic interviews and graphic fieldnotes gathered on this page share some of the behind-the-scenes stories of our project members. Janine Wulz, Research Assistant Comic by Raey Costain. Charlotte Schallié, SCVN Co-Director Graphic Fieldnote by Raey Costain. Matt Huculak, SCVN Data Director Graphic Fieldnote by Raey Costain. Further interviews coming soon. Yugoslav Wars – AlmasaThe Yugoslav Wars SCVN research cluster will interrogate state-sponsored histories of these conflicts and their commemorative practices, focusing on how gender-based experiences violence have been erased from the narrative. Yugoslav Wars – RužicaThe Yugoslav Wars SCVN research cluster will interrogate state-sponsored histories of these conflicts and their commemorative practices, focusing on how gender-based experiences violence have been erased from the narrative. Our TeamOur Team The Survivor-Centred Visual Narratives Project is made up of an international team of artists, researchers, and filmmakers. Artists | Community Liaisons & Staff | Creative Consultants | Filmmakers, Videographers & Photographers | Researchers | Project Advisors Charlotte Schallié PROJECT LEAD & CO-DIRECTOR Andrea Webb (PhD) spent a decade as a classroom teacher and [...] But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the HolocaustBut I Live Explore the first stories ‘But I Live’ is the result of a unique collaborative research initiative focused on Holocaust survivors and their testimonies. Beginning in 2019, graphic novelists, Holocaust education professionals, historians, and researchers came together to gather the experiences of child survivors of the Holocaust. Artists Miriam Libicki, Barbara Yelin, and [...] Educational ResourcesEducational Resources The educational approach for the project involves using the graphic narratives as the foundation for creating linguistically, culturally, and educationally contextual teaching materials. This educational program connects with curricular priorities (21st century learning, historical thinking, human rights and global citizenship education), by teaching with testimony and graphic narratives of genocide. Human Rights Education [...] What's New View what’s new outputs Resources Check available resources Contact Us Send us a message!
