Session 9.5
CASE STUDIES
Introduction
This activity based on case study situations
is about planning for peer group education. This will allow
the group to start thinking about barriers or difficulties
which can occur during their projects.
Material
• Case studies
• Copy of the 'Step by Step'
check-list (8.5)
Time
2.5 hour
Group size
15 - 25 people
Process
After an introduction and short discussion
about different settings within which peer group education
can take place split the group into smaller groups. Each
group should work with one of the six case studies which
refer to different situations some are for projects taking
place in school or educational institutions and some in
grass roots projects coming from young people themselves.
These can be rewritten based on local situations relating
to intolerance.
Each working group will need a copy of the 'Step by Step'
questions which they should address: These can be adapted
for example if the group need to address particular aspects
like finance or the role of the coach in more detail. Each
working group should plan a short presentation to share
their thoughts, feelings and discussions about the situation.
You should stress that their discussions should focus on
peer group education as the method.
Case studies
Formal/In school case study 1
You are a teacher, in your class
of 25, there are 8 new pupils who have come as refugees.
They have joined your class in the past year. Recently
there have been problems in the school playground,
the indigenous pupils harass, mob and tease the newcomers,
the new pupils in defence start to react aggressively,
engaging in fist fights. Although there haven't been
any violent incidents yet you are concerned that there
will be. You would like to launch a peer group education
programme to deal with this situation. |
Formal/In school case study 2
You are in a school where they have
a ninth grade class with a majority of immigrants.
Lately there have been several feuds between the immigrants
and the other students. You feel the situation is
getting worse and decide to try and solve this problem.
You are also an immigrant, but you have not taken
part in the feuds. You would like to create a positive
role model for the restless immigrants who don't feel
welcome. You contact your teacher for help and guidance
in setting up a peer group education programme in
your school. |
Informal settings/Out of school,
case study 3
You are a worker in a youth centre.
Nearby a Gypsy camp site is located and for a number
of months every year Gypsy youth come to use your
centre. This creates friction between them and the
young people who use the club all year round. Each
group tries to mark territory against the other one
with the intention of taking over the youth centre.
Some of the young people come to you and say that
they are tired of this conflict and would like to
make some steps towards a more peaceful situation.
You suggest that a peer group education project is
started at the centre. |
Informal settings/Out of school,
case study 4
You are a youth worker. After working
at the same centre for several years you have developed
good working relationships with local young people.
In recent weeks you have been working with them on
a project about sex education, one of the group has
disclosed that he is homosexual. He has declared this
to his close friends. Some have told the rest of the
young people and now they are making jokes and 'freezing
him out' of the group. Approximately 1/3 of the members
want to set up a peer group education program to educate
the others about homophobia. They approach you for
help. |
Grass roots, case study 5
You are a young person, your local
community has a Jewish Cemetery which recently has
been vandalised, some of the buildings and memorials
have been painted on and smashed. You feel very bad
about this and suspect that young people are responsible
for the damage, you would like to plan some work which
will help young people understand about Jewish history
and people. You and your friends have come together
to plan a peer group education programme for other
young people. |
Grass roots, case study 6
You are a young person, you live
in a small town where they have just opened a refugee
centre. One night a group of your peers attack and
vandalize the centre. You feel bad about the situation
and decide to take action. You collect a group of
your friend together who feel the same way as you
do, you decide that your assignment is to create a
better understanding between the refugees and the
locals. |
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