Session 8.7
NETWORKING
Identifying the different needs of peer educators
Introduction
An activity designed to allow people
to consider the
different types of support and to
develop ways of building a network of people concerned
with racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance.
Material
• Flipchart paper
• A4 paper
• Pens
Time
2 -2.5 hours
Group size
15 - 30 people
Process
The fact is that no one is self-sufficient
because we all depend on others for certain things.
This can be illustrated with a short activity in the
large group. Everybody, draw a line down the centre
of a A4 paper. At the left side they list the names
of
people they need and like to have
around them, or make contact with on regular times.
Now on the right side, after each name: what sort
of support is that person giving to you, why do you
need that person, why you like to have contacts with
that person etc.
Ask them to call out all the support and needs other
people meet for them (no names), while you write the
points on the flipchart. Review the list and try to
identify different areas for needs and support.
For example:
• physical needs: food,
air, sleep etc.
• care and protection:
clothes, shelter, health service etc.
• social needs: security
of a community, a feeling of 'belonging' etc.
• personal development:
to develop our interests and talents, the need for
'a purpose in life' etc.
Brain-storm all the situations where peer educators
are likely to need support. This could be on issues
concerning group work leadership, knowledge and activities
around Racism. Go through the brain-storm list and
ask the people to choose a situation which they would
like to discuss more in depth. The people should now
work in smaller groups on the situation they have
chosen. Ask the group to address the question of what
for support in this particular situation is needed
and how to realise it. In the large group, ask the
small group to feed back all the ideas they shared
and list major points about support structures and
how they can be organised.
Conclusion
These two activities could open
the way for some further exploration in the needs
for different kind of support, information or training.
The need for support will vary over time for each
individual. The peer coach needs the skills to provide
that
support flexible and in a variety
of ways which should be flexible.
The activity, "Making
links" in Compass explores the networks of
rights and responsibilities that exist between citizens,
the government, NGOs and the media. You may like to
do the activity for its own sake, or you may like
to use the technique to help you explore your own
networks.
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