On Thursday 20 November, Arctic Youth hosted a book launch of the newly published «Learning through Social Work Stories-That-Matter: Global Perspectives». The book is edited by Tony Ghaye and Arctic Youth centre leader Rita Sørly, and it includes numerous chapters written by members of Arctic Youth. The book launch was held at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø and was well attended. See the full programme for the event here.
Link to the book: here.
The evening was hosted by Rita Sørly, who introduced the book by sharing insights into its writing and publication process. The book offers both inspiration and understanding through personal narratives from twenty-seven social work researchers, students, and practitioners across five continents. These stories provide a rich exploration of diverse environments, communities, and systems. Each narrative serves as a powerful testament to the profound intersections of relationships, emotions, and lived experiences, capturing moments of genuine human significance.
Professor Tony Ghaye served as the book’s lead editor and, alongside Rita, guided the team of contributors throughout the writing process. In his presentation, Tony emphasized that storytelling lies at the very heart of social work. «Social work is about people, and people are stories,» he explained. «It is through stories that we understand what challenges us, what strengthens us, and what connects us. Stories are the foundation for creating change.»
Mónica Ayala-Mira contributed a chapter about her work in a Mexican migrant shelter, where 25 Mexican and Central American women, along with their children, had sought refuge after being displaced by criminal and gender-based violence. At the time, these women had been waiting in the shelter for several months, uncertain about what the future held.
Artist and photographer Hilde Mjøs illustrated the book with black-and-white photographs of flowers in transformation. These stunning images symbolize the changes reflected in the stories and also serve as moments of pause or reflection between the chapters. During the book launch, Hilde shared her creative process and the inspiration behind these photographs.
