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OBJECTIVE |
To introduce facilitators and participants to the group and share information about expectations and contributions |
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TIMING |
45 minutes |
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MATERIALS NEEDED |
One or two flip charts and marker pens, sticky notes are optional |
MODULE 2: INTRODUCTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS
When planning and facilitating this session, it is important to consistently apply an intersectional lens to each participant's identity and experiences, and their protection needs. Overlapping systems of discrimination and privilege, such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, racial and/or ethnic origin, economic status/class, marital status, citizenship, age and physical appearance, can have a profound impact on human rights defenders' and their communities' perception of and experience with risks and protection.
The facilitator asks facilitators and participants to introduce themselves for about 3 minutes (depending participants and on time available), with information about themselves. Another facilitator can write up the hopes/expectations/concerns and the skills/knowledge on 2 flip charts
“Tell us:
- your name you would like to be called in this workshop, and what pronouns you identify with
- what your organisation or network or community does, and what is your role within it?
- what hopes and expectations do you have for this workshop and what are your concerns about the workshop?
- what skills or knowledge do you bring to the workshop that you want to share?
- Tell us 2 things you love doing (Only one of them may be related to activism/work because we want to know about you as a whole person!)”
NOTE: Introducing elements of personal experience and fun will help lighten the atmosphere
The facilitator points out if any of the expectations are unrealistic (eg “to guarantee my safety”, or if any of the expectations will not be met in this workshop. In some cases of expectations not being met, the facilitator may be able to recommend contacts or resources which relate to the topic/s not being covered.
The facilitator concludes, and could make the following points as relevant:
- the expectations are all reasonable and will be met at the workshop
- there is a wealth and diversity of experience in the room, and the first objective of the workshop is to give the opportunity to share this.
Alternatives:
Consider different ways to introduce participants and their expectations:
- all participants stand in a circle and say their names, and uses their body to make a gesture to relate to their names, and everyone says this participant’s name and makes the gesture
- the participants stand in a circle and throw a ball to each other. The one who receives the ball introduces themselves, their organisation, their expectations, their skills and something they enjoy doing
- ask the participants to write their expectations and concerns on sticky notes and explain them to the group
- ask participants to pair up with someone they don’t know and share their expectations before presenting them to the group
- draw 2 big bags and ask the participants to bring post-its showing what skills and knowledge they bring to the workshop, and what skills and knowledge they want to take away
What can go wrong and some ideas for dealing with it
- a participant may take up a lot of time by telling their life story in the introduction
- prevention: consider how much time this group will need for introductions and check with your co-facilitator or local contact. For Indigenous communities for example, a longer time will be be more appropriate
- prevention: if you know some of the participants already, ask the first person to start who you know will follow the questions and keep to time – you will find most others will follow this lead
- it is your first day, so you need to set the tone to be respectful and not interrupt in a discouraging way
- you may be able to limit the participant’s contribution by body language, eg walking slowly towards them and nodding, or interrupting in a space and saying you look forward to hearing more about that aspect later in the programme (mention the session) and return to the questions posed - a participant may become overwhelmed emotionally – Participants affected by the subject matter
RELATED OPTIONS: Resource 4: Openings, Energisers and Closings
