What challenge inspired this recipe?
Many volunteers choose to participate in a European Solidarity Corps volunteering project without truly being aware of the mission and principles of the program and without having reflected on what “solidarity” means to them.
During the welcome sessions with our newly arrived ESC volunteers, we therefore always take some time for a reflection activity. The activity is done through the “silent dialogue” method.
Ingredients :
- Flipchart/Poster with “SOLIDARITY” written on it, hang up on a wall or on a table that is easily accessible – or alternatively in an online setting (or if needed for accessibility reasons) use a digital platform like a Padlet/Google Jamboard etc.
- Facilitator for the activity who sets the context, explains the activity, and de-briefs it with the participants
Step by step guide
- Ask ESC participations during the welcome session about their knowledge and understanding of the European Solidarity Corps program, its mission and principles
- If necessary, present the official mission and principles of the program, explain and discuss them with the participants
- Then ask participants to take some time to reflect and to participate in the silent dialogue, the facilitator informs about the time frame (e.g. they have 10 minutes):
- They should write their associations with the term “Solidarity” on the paper/board
- They can write sentences, key words, make drawings, etc.
- Participants should comment in writing/drawing to the post of the other participants
- They can ask questions, comment, confirm, etc.
- If necessary, the facilitator of the activity can also add some comments or questions, that might help to keep the silent dialogue going
- The activity is called silent dialogue because participants should not speak to each other verbally, only through writing and commenting on the board
- This way each participant has the calmness and time to reflect for themselves, but still exchange thoughts and ideas with the others
- It also gives more introverted people the chance to share their thoughts and opinions, without having to speak in front of a group of people
- If deemed appropriate, the facilitator can put background music on, to create a nice atmosphere for this reflection activity
- The facilitator should monitor the process. When it slows down and no one has anything to add to the board anymore, the facilitator will announce the end of the activity
- To conclude the activity the participants look at the board together and can have an open discussion about what has been written, drawn, asked, etc.
- As a next step the facilitator can discuss with the participants (and/or present) additional ideas of how the volunteers can further explore, live, create solidarity during their volunteering activities (e.g. inform about the personal mini-projects, and/or the possibility to apply for solidarity projects, etc.)
Important to highlight!The silent dialogue method gives all participants the opportunity to contribute their throughts and ideas equally to the discussion and might be a good method in groups where people don’t know each other so well yet or are rather introverted. Writing your comments on a paper or add it digitally might be easier than speaking in front of a whole group people. Depending on the profile of the participants, silent dialogue might also be a more accessible version of a group discussion (e.g. with deaf or noise sensitive participants). |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
It works better as a group activity. If there is no possibility to gather the volunteers, the activity would have to be adapted so it makes more sense for a bilateral or small group meeting.
