Writing Our Heritage: Young People Explore the Stories That Shape Us

During the Women’s Day long weekend, On The Pulse, together with WCG Museums, hosted a Heritage Exploration Writing Workshop, bringing together young people from YearBeyond, Chrysalis Academy and Museums. The workshop created a space for young people to develop their writing skills while exploring and sharing stories about their upbringing, family traditions, memories, and the people and places that have shaped them.

As we work towards the third On The Pulse publication, the weekend, led by Write 4 Life, began by exploring what heritage means and the different ways we experience and express it. Through discussion, participants reflected on how heritage and traditions shape how we see ourselves and show up in the world. Heritage is not only found in museums or historical records, but is carried through food, songs, stories, games, language, clothing and everyday practices passed down through generations.

By reflecting on their own experiences, participants recognised that their stories form part of the larger story of their communities and country. Through writing prompts and practical exercises, they sharpened their long- and short-form writing skills, experimented with different ways of telling stories and explored how to put words to experiences that may otherwise remain untold.

These skills extend beyond the workshop, giving young people tools to communicate confidently, document their experiences and contribute their perspectives to conversations that matter to them. For On The Pulse, creating spaces for young people to explore and preserve their heritage is an important part of the platform’s ongoing work. Through writing, conversation, photography, audio and other creative forms, On The Pulse continues to centre youth expression and create opportunities for young people to make meaning from their experiences.