If there is a clock in the room should be covered or removed

Then everybody has to sit down on their chairs and with their eyes closed

Then the facilitator asks everyone to stand up and close their eyes. On the command “GO!”, each person is to count up to 60 seconds and sit down when they have finished. It is important to stress that this exercise can only work if everyone is quiet during the whole of it. Once people have sat down they can open their eyes, but not before.

Different coloured pens and/or pencils

• Every participant receives paper and pen and draws the profile of his/her face on the paper.

• Participants reflect personally about various aspects of their identity/elements to be put outside of the drawn The participants should be given sufficient time for this, trying to think through different elements constituting identity (family, nationality, culture, education, gender, religion, relationship roles, group belongings etc.). They should be encouraged to think about both personal aspects and attitudes they both like and dislike.
• In a second step, participants reflect on the relation between what they see and others might see and the relation between different
• Participants are asked to join together in small groups (maximum 5) and exchange their reflections: How do we see ourselves? How do we think others see us? What influences me? What were my reference points? How do perceptions and attitudes change over time and why? Which dynamics can I perceive in terms of changes and how are they linked? How do I deal with the elements I dislike with myself and where do they come from? Which linkages can I perceive between different aspects?

Here are some more questions you could ask: How do we work with our own and others’ perception of ourselves? How far is an identity a “dynamic concept” and what are relevant factors influencing changes? What impacts in this group on my identity and how are they linked?

is better to share one’s own histories if possible instead of interpreting the ones of others. If you want you can finish this activity with showing a short movie on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YAjBFAT1jw) and had a brainstorm about identity.

1. Ask all participants in the group to think in silence about their favourite animal
2. Then asks participants to, without talking, form a line from the biggest to the smallest animal.
3. The participants are only allowed to explain their animal with gestures and sounds
4. When they have finished, ask everyone to say what animal they had in mind and see if the position they are in, is correct.

Flipchart papers with the 10-15 statements, each on different sheet (or power- point presentation with the different statements)

Two signs “Yes” and “No” in the opposite corners of the room

• Prepare 10-15 statements that touch the various aspects of culture and dilemmas related to the topic. The statements should be clear, and not raise discussions on how to perceive them.

• Introduce the exercise to the A statement is going to be presented to them. They are asked to decide whether they agree or disagree with the statement and go to the appropriate side of the room (if you agree you go to the side of the “Yes” sign, if you disagree, you go to the side with the “No” sign). Everybody has to take a stand, you cannot remain in the middle. Once everybody has taken a side, participants are asked to explain to each other why they disagree/agree. Everybody is free to change sides during the discussion, if you have been convinced by an argument you heard.
• Start the exercise by showing the first statement. Give people time to read and understand the Ask people to take their side, and, once everybody has decided, invite them to explain their decision.
• Move through all the statements following this routine. When you have finished, you might want to ask participants about how they felt and give room to resolve any outstanding issues.

relatively easy to decide on? What are the topics you would like to go more deep into?

We are all determined by our culture

• Culture is determined by your economic and social position
• It is easy to change your culture
• You can only have one culture
• Culture should be shared by at least 50 persons
• We should accept all expressions of people’s culture
• Human rights stand above culture
• Women’s rights stand above culture
• Everyone should adapt their culture to the “National culture” in their country of residence

• The participants write on a piece of paper their cultural identity/nationality. This paper is stuck on the back of the person and all the other participants write stereotypes they have about this culture.
• Every participant writes on the backs of all the other participants. The facilitator can give examples to streamline the ideas – could focus on food, drinks, music,
• Then, every participant comments the things written about his/her

• Materials for the costumes, scissors, rulers, glue, pencils
• Role cards
• Annex 1 – Questionnaire ► Download

• Situation/Story line: On the occasion of new courses in youth policies in the world, delegations from all countries came to participate in the World Student Conference with the name: “Student’s Movement and Building Democracy”. After you come from the airport, organizers of the conference are waiting for you and direct you to the Main Hall to meet the other two delegations with whom you are supposed to cooperate closely during the conference. During that meeting, your task will be to choose 5 persons in total who will represent your 3 delegations in the Main board of the So out of the three groups, only 5 people can be chosen to represent you.
• Then, the groups go to the separate rooms and wait for the instructions from the facilitator. Before that, they are to read carefully those characteristics and to get into the roles. They should represent all characteristics of their culture not by talking about them but through behaviour, way of touching/or not touching people, way of talking etc. They should try to make costumes, give themselves names and practice being in your
• Simulation 1: All three delegations are gathered in the big rom. Welcome… etc. Please, start the meeting. You should choose 5 representatives for the main board. Simulation can last about 15 min (depends on the process, can be a little shorter or longer). It should be stopped before they agree. Stop the
• Now they will discuss the questions in their small Then, discuss a new strategy in your small groups, concerning agreement and behaviour. Could you change something to meet the other cultures in a more open and easy way? 5 min. 15-20 min.
• Back in the big room. Second meeting – simulation. 10

• One large sheet of paper with a drawing of a tree on it (only with branches without any leaves, according to the number of activities – for example branches for 5 activities
• Minimum of five pens in a different colours
• One sheet of paper with a scale of leaves between 1 (not satisfied) – 5 (very satisfied) of different colours. The colours represent the level of satisfaction – for example, yellow for “not satisfied” and red for “very satisfied”
• Pins or sticky tape