Plan
- Do I have the space and materials to do this activity?
- Is this group prepared to discuss challenging topics?
- How can we ensure respect throughout the activity? Ground rules?
Do
- These questions should be challenging and thought provoking – Prepare several questions/statements that have no single answer, such as:
- People should be able to live in whatever country they want
- Everyone in the world has the same rights
- It is worse having to leave your home because of war, than for any other reason
- If I were living in danger, I’d want others to help me and my family
- Each country should look after its own people
- If you go to live in another country, you should learn the language
- Most people prefer to stay in their own countries than go somewhere else to live
- Rich countries should offer refuge to more people than poor countries
- Have everyone stand in the middle of the room. Mark the left-hand side of the room as ‘YES’, the right-hand side as ‘NO’, and the middle as ‘I’M NOT SURE’. Remember that everyone is entitled to their own views! Have one person read out a statement and ask everyone to move to the place in the room that represents their answer or initial reaction to the statement.
- Remember, it is ok to change your opinion on things as you think about a topic or learn more about it. Allow people to move around as the discussions take place in the event that they change their mind.
Review
- How did this activity make you feel?
- Was it scary to express an opinion on difficult topics?
- Did any discussions change your mind?
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Remember to submit your activities on our Scouts for Sustainability Take Action Map
Materials
- Paper with ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ and ‘I’m not sure,‘
- Something to attach the papers to the wall – tape, sticky tack, etc.
Keep it Simple
- Keep these questions simpler. Ask questions like, is it wrong to steal? Would you want to move to a new country tomorrow? While still thought provoking, these might be simpler concepts for people to wrap their minds around.
Take it Further
- Take this further by continuing the conversation beyond the meeting. Ask youth to do research on a particular topic from the discussion and bring facts to the next meeting with their discoveries.
- Learn about different challenges the world is facing as you make your own Human Social Issue Library.
