Lesson 3: Creating inclusive communities
Recommended size of the group: from 6 to 30 people
Aim of the Lesson: The lesson will focus on “inclusive communities” – building a community that is tolerant and acceptant to immigrants and refugees. The participants will learn about the benefits of such communities and discuss the good practise in their home country and abroad. They will also explore how they can be a part of building such community. The lesson will also allow the participants to develop their debates/advocacy skills further.
Objective/Learning outcomes:
After the lesson participants will:
- Improve their knowledge about advocacy/debates method.
- Understand the need and importance of advocacy.
- Improve their communication skills in terms of expressing their points of view with as well the ability to participate in constructive discussion & debates.
- Improve listening skills.
- Understand how their “voice” can help to spread awareness, raise empathy & tolerance towards migrants and refugees in their communities.
- Understand the importance of inclusive communities.
- Raise awareness and empathy towards migrants and refugees.
Resources needed:
- Spaghetti
- Marshmallow
- Tape
- Handouts (role play debates)
- hat/box/bucket
- Projector
- Computer
- Sound System
- Flipchart & flipchart paper
- Spacious training room
Teaching methods:
- Presentations by trainer
- Debates/ Discussion
- Individual work
- Case studies/good practice sharing
- Role Play
Content
1) Remembering what advocacy and debate is.
Group discussion (15 minutes):
- What is advocacy? Describe in your own words.
- What are debates & storytelling? Describe in your own words.
- How, why and where advocacy is being used?
- The importance of advocacy?
- Give examples of good practise of advocacy methods in local communities.
2) Real life simulation of Roundtable debates (40 minutes).
- Introduce the topic to the group (make sure it is relevant to the group considering their age, background, area they are living in, etc.) related to immigrants/refugees.
- The group is divided into roundtables (each round table have 5 - 6 people depending on the group size).
- The roundtable members each select the role/character/organisation they will be representing. They will also present their opinions/solutions also considering their character/role. This allows participants to look at the issue/problems presented from the different angles/points of view. As well, a wider range of “experts from different backgrounds” will produce various solutions.
Characters/ organisations depends on the stakeholders/key organisations involved in the main discussion topic. Each characters/organisations should have a small description with their work activities/responsibilities, etc.
- After everyone is ready the roundtable debates begin:
- Group members introduce themselves (their characters).
- Moderator presents an issue to the group.
- Members ask clarifying questions.
- Silence while members write down ideas and thoughts regarding situations presented.
- Each member shares ideas/suggestions/good practise that relates to the situation.
- Moderator agenda items and critical points and ask participants about the key insights gained.
- Closure and wrap up: ask participants what they found of the debates, was there something challenging for them, etc.
Evaluation
Question Hat method (20 minutes):
- Give each team member a small piece of paper and a pen.
- Ask participants to write down a question they have. The question could be related to what they have learned today, or something that came up, an idea they have for reflection or otherwise.
- Trainer may choose one theme specifically or can leave it open to individuals to pose any questions that they feel are relevant (considering all three lessons).
- After a few minutes, the trainer collects all the questions in the hat/box/bucket or whatever they have.
- The trainer then gives the hat/box/bucket to one person, who will pick a question randomly.
- The person who picked the question will try and provide an answer to the question. The trainer may wish to open a discussion.
- The hat is passed round the circle until everyone has picked and answered a question.
General Tips for Trainer
The Roundtable exercise topic has to be known/relevant to the group and the issues they are facing or aware of in order for it to be as “real” as possible. You will have to think of the relevant topic and think of stakeholders that should be involved in finding solutions.
For example:
The topic – there is a need for cultural centre/premises that everyone including minorities/ refugees/ migrants could use for gathering together/cultural events in “Limassol” city.
Characters/roles:
- Representative of “Limassol” municipality
- Representatives from “Filipino” immigrant workers community (number depends on the group)
- Representatives from School Board of city “Limassol”
- Representative from “Trassol” cultural centre
- Different representatives of “Limassol” city immigrants and refugee’s community
- Representative from Vietnamese, Filipino, Slovak, Bulgaria and Romania embassies