Connecting Language, Literacy, and Empowerment Through Digital Storytelling With Afghan Refugee Women
Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy
Published online on May 14, 2026
Abstract
["Journal of Adolescent &Adult Literacy, Volume 70, Issue 1, July/August 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nThis case study examines how digital storytelling (DST) serves as a tool for language and literacy learning, personal expression, and empowerment among Afghan refugee women. The researchers explore the experiences of five Afghan refugee women participating in a 3‐month DST project. The participants engaged in iterative literacy practices, creating digital stories that integrated oral, written, aural, and visual elements. The analysis of participant‐created artifacts and digital stories, interview transcripts, and observation notes identified three key themes: literacy learning through multimodal engagement, identity expression, and agency enactment. Findings suggest DST addresses linguistic and cultural barriers, fosters emotional well‐being, and empowers the participants to reclaim their voices in addition to supporting their literacy learning.\n"]