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.
|