Stories of Wellbeing in Bilbao

On the way to a global festival on wellbeing in 2021, Kennisland is supporting the Wellbeing Project++The Wellbeing ProjectThe Wellbeing Project is co-created with Ashoka, Impact Hub, Porticus, Esalen, Skoll Foundation and Synergos and focuses on a culture of inner wellbeing for changemakers globally. with our exploration on Stories of Wellbeing in Bilbao++ProjectRead more about our project Stories of Wellbeing in Bilbao here. . We have submerged ourselves in the city, its history and its people to get an understanding of what it means to be a Bilbaoan. Family tales, stories of transformation, unspoken truths and intimate memories were shared with us during just a couple of days in the city. This publication is our first attempt at honouring and uniting stories and events that shape the community of Bilbao and the Basque Country.

Stories as building blocks for the future

Over the course of the next year, we will perform a listening exerciseWe aim to understand the issues beneath the surface of the city of Bilbao through listening to the stories of its citizens. What are their longings, dreams, known and unknown histories? in Bilbao with local story collectors. With this process, we aim to understand the issues beneath the surface of the city of Bilbao through listening to the stories of its citizens. What are their longings, dreams, known and unknown histories? How do they relate to each other? How do their inner stories animate the outer life and reality of the city? 

Through bringing together the stories of citizens on city life and inner wellbeing, and organising moments for collective reflection, we want to fuel meaningful actions from the citizens, organisations and city council of Bilbao around the topic of personal wellbeing. For global changemakers, this listening exercise will be a building block in the community building process leading up to the 2021 Wellbeing Festival, where changemakers will use the insights from the stories to form global connections and communities around wellbeing.

First impressions of Bilbao

To get an understanding of which storylines are valuableThrough bringing together the stories of citizens and organising moments for collective reflection, we want to fuel meaningful actions around the topic of personal wellbeing. to explore, we have made first visits to Bilbao and spoken to citizens of Bilbao and its surrounding towns and villages, professionals, artists and historians. We have joined family constellations led by Judith Hemming on delicate topics that influenced families’ pasts and presents. And we have wandered around the city, taking in its looks, its impressive riverside, its squares full of people, its sun and rain, and its food. This publication is a first gathering of stories we have and haven’t heard. It aims to help us and others explore further what wellbeing means for the Basque community. Enjoy!

If you’re interested in reading this publication (regretfully we cannot share it publicly yet) or have something to add, please contact us!