Youth Stories

This is a free space for the young people we work with, where they can share their stories and experiences through artworks and creative outputs, including: comics & cartoons, essays, manifestos, photographs, poetry, short stories and more. Some of these creations were produced during our creative participatory workshops and other fieldwork activities, while others were created on young people’s own initiative.

Enjoy exploring! And remember, if you would like to contribute with a creative piece, please get in contact with the GRABS team by emailing us at: grabs [at] univ-paris8.fr

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Untitled

Comics & cartoons, Youth Stories

Untitled For this comic, I chose to tell the story of my father’s immigration journey and the sacrifices he made for our family. Before coming to Canada, my dad worked as a pharmacist in Palestine for over 20 years. Although he had a successful career and years of experience, continuing in the same profession in…

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Motiver

Poetry, Youth Stories

MOTIVER Un poème par Landry                         Le regard levé au loin  Un sacré magic  Lever du soleil,  Inoubliables sont nos peines, remplis de doutes et inquiétudes  Mais bombé est le torse, comme un esclave en quête de signe de lumière. A retenir: nos pensées nous rendent aveugles, le but c’est d’accepter d’être incompris par soi…

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Ouvert est le ciel

Poetry, Youth Stories

Ouvert est le ciel Ouvert est le ciel Dense est son porté Multiples sont ses couleurs Classe sont ses nuages Mais unique il est.  Nous avons tous tendance à penser très fort  A des personnes qui sont loin Mais hélas la distance un petit grand facteur qu’on a tendance à minimiser Mais au fond c’est…

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Building

Poetry, Youth Stories

Building Not pretty but it raised me. Broken outside but whole inside. From these walls I rose. Unsafe to others, sacred to me. Unsafe walls, safe memories. Foundation may be cratered but it held me up. You see danger, I see my origin story. Poem by Maria, eThekwini-Durban, South Africa, July 2025 … Credit: Photo…

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Family Tree

Poetry, Youth Stories

Family Tree We grow and disperse We learn the ways of life Ways that lead us astray Some learn and gain wisdom Others learn to use knowledge against others The ways of life Life is like a tree Starts from a simple seed Sprouts into what we call the beauty of nature Each slowly fades…

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In my head

Poetry, Youth Stories

In My Head I can’t run. I can’t hide. I close all the doors and windows. Yet, I still Hear their voices Memories I wish I’d forgotten Displaying in my head like A cinema.. I’m stuck in my head and my thoughts are killing me. I feel dead waiting for my last breath… there is…

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Conscripted Souls

Poetry, Youth Stories

Conscripted Souls It’s a scary world we’re living in, in a world where love has become a computation as to who gets the most exes Where did the long loving true love go? or did our parents hide it only for their generation? I read a quote that goes “when you find your first love…

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