Community Action through Storytelling
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 6 Mar: ‘Words. Rhythms. Images.’ (WRI) convened an interactive gathering titled “Extreme Heat: Community Action through Storytelling” today at Hotel Aketa, here. The event brought together community voices and those of experts to reflect on practical, affordable solutions to increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves across India.
The event marks the culmination of a grant to promote locally led adaptation on climate action that is supported by the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network. The project was led by WRI in partnership with Aryan Group, a Dehradun-based NGO with longstanding roots in community development and disaster response.
Over the past several months, WRI has worked closely with children, teachers, and families connected to the Aryan Group’s community learning centres in Kathbangla, Chetna, Sapera, and Nagal bastis in Dehradun. After experiencing the severe heat of 2025, the goal was to support these communities in better understanding heat risks and preparing for the coming summer months. Through interactive learning sessions and community discussions especially designed to engage women and adolescents, participants explored how rising temperatures affect their daily lives. The sessions also introduced practical, locally relevant ways to stay safe during extreme heat.
As part of the initiative, children learnt from the storybook on heatwaves developed by COPE Disaster Champions, a global initiative that uses illustrated storytelling to introduce children aged 6–12 to disaster risk reduction. Alongside climate education, members from these bastis also participated in digital storytelling workshops facilitated by WRI. Using mobile phones, participants documented their lived experiences of extreme heat and explored simple solutions collectively identified within their communities with the support of a subject matter expert. These short videos capture both the challenges communities face and the local innovations they are exploring to cope with rising temperatures.
These stories were screened during the event, creating a space for dialogue between community members, practitioners, and educators. The gathering also featured expert insights on heatwaves in Dehradun and thermal comfort in low-cost homes. Additionally, there was a panel discussion on the role of citizens in climate action and creative performances by children from the Aryan Group learning centres.
The event was attended by Dr. Pooja Rana from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority and climate activist Anoop Nautiyal, among other stakeholders.
Chief Guest Anoop Nautiyal pointed out that this was the first time a focused discussion on heatwaves was taking place in Dehradun, which brought together activists, practitioners, and community members. He also congratulated WRI and Aryan Group for leading this conversation and making space for effective collaborations. Dr Rana extended support from USDMA for collective solution building.
By bringing together simple climate education with storytelling and community dialogue, this initiative helps to create a better understanding of why heatwaves are becoming more frequent and identify low-cost ways to cope. It also encourages women and adolescents, often among those most affected, to play an active role in becoming active participants in identifying and sharing solutions.
