Workcamp participants have a lot of stories to share, and this session is designed in a way to enforce building a safe environment, strengthen getting to know each other and already start reflecting in an entertaining way. We believe that before opening up the learning reflection into several directions (see further session plans) it is important to create a space for participants to simply share, find similarities and differences from each other's stories. This session works best as a warm-up session to deepen the learning reflection of participants, but can also be done as an individual session.

Pre-session CHECKLIST

participants are informed about the object

room is set-up with chairs, flipchart

interview questions are printed

in case participants don’t have an object, an alternative solution is to provide a longer time and extra materials (markers, paint, clay or play-doh, lego, flipchart papers, etc.) to create their object

Step-by-step IMPLEMENTATION

Warming up - “During my workcamp…” (10-15 minutes)

Participants stand in a circle. One participant takes a step to the front, and shares a fun fact related to their workcamp. If it’s true for others, they have to switch places.

Eg. During my workcamp, I had to talk with a stranger. During my workcamp, I made really good friends. During my workcamp, I did something I never did before in my life.

🎩 Pro tip: Facilitator should start the round to make the nature of the statements clear for the participants.

💻Virtual version: turning cameras on and off can substitute the movement part of the activity in an online environment.

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Workcamp celebrities (20-30 minutes)

Participants work in pairs, chairs are set in a way that pairs can face each other, not too close to other pairs.

They select who is going to be A and B.

“Imagine that you are being interviewed for the local newspaper/local radio or TV show about your workcamp. You will be asked a set of questions and you will have time to answer. The interviewer might ask you follow-up questions, but won’t react or respond to your story.”

Each pair receives a set of questions, first A is asking the questions, B is answering, and after 10-15 minutes, they switch.

Questions:

How did you hear about workcamps?

How did you end up going to the workcamp you went to?

When and where was your workcamp? What was it about?

What was your favorite moment in the workcamp?

What was your least favorite moment in the workcamp?

What was your biggest learning in the workcamp? What is the skill you learned and practiced the most?

If you could do something differently in your workcamp, what would it be?

🎩 Pro tip: Emphasize that asking follow-up questions is allowed (like in an interview), but no responding to the stories, no commenting is allowed. If there is time, it might be interesting to introduce active listening to the participants as a model.

💻Virtual version: Pairs are sent out to their breakout rooms, the questions are provided in a non-editable, but accessible document.

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The bazaar of workcamps (60-90 minutes)

‘10 Introduction - Participants are introduced to the concept and logistics of the bazaar:

“We invite you to the Bazaar of workcamp memories. Bring one object that represents your workcamp and your story. Spectators will be walking around freely, listening to your story and asking questions.”

‘15 Preparation - participants bring their object, find an exhibition place - in one open area, make notes on their stories.

‘45 Exhibition time

Divide the group into at least 3 groups (A,B,C) - one group (A) will stay at their “exhibition area”, and the rest (B, C) walks around freely. After 15 minutes, the next group (B) take their place, the two others (A, C) walk around. Repeat as many times as much groups you have.

Encourage participants to ask questions from each other.

‘5 Museum

Once all the rounds are done, ask participants to place their objects with their names in a previously set-up “museum” area, where they can stay until the end of the post-arrival activity.

💻Virtual version: Participants take a picture of their object and upload this picture on a digital whiteboard application (e.g. Miro, Mural, Jamboard, etc.) With the same group division, every person from the first group (A) gets their own breakout room, the rest of the participants are free to jump in and out of the breakout rooms. Disclaimer: the amount of time will increase significantly as this requires a lot of logistics and action from the participants.

REVIEW & DEBRIEFING

Once the reflection session is done, ask participants how it was for them to share their stories with each other. Did they notice any similarities and differences between each others’ stories? Were there anything they see differently now then during or right after the workcamp? What was their biggest learning in the workcamp?

TARGET GROUP size & specifics

10-30 participants workcamp participants, leaders

DURATION

min. 90 minutes

TO DO List

& Deadlines

There are no rows in this table

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