JAMMIN Toolbox allows you to select the activities most relevant for your own objectives, needs, audience and means, such as art, inclusion, migration, equality. These activities do not need to be followed chronologically. Each activity also stands alone and can be conducted independently of the others.
The practical information for each activity, such as group size, duration, target audience etc., is not a hard and fast rule and is indicated as a suggestion only. Many variables will influence how the activity will be conducted and each should be adapted to the specific needs of its audience.
How should I use JAMMIN ToolBox?
Above all, your role is to maintain trust and respect and this is something you must be aware of while leading the activities. You should also be conscious that each activity leads to a greater sense of awareness for each of the participants.
The following activities seek to encourage participants to reflect and take action on a number of topics. They are opportunities for young people to experience, reflect, analyse and criticise, but especially to express themselves, on a large variety of topics.
The activities may evoke some viewpoints that are at odds with the values inherent to youth work and as such, may put you in an uncomfortable position. However, it is essential that the environment is one in which the participants are able and comfortable to express themselves freely, without censorship or judgement.
Your principal objective must be to build a delicate balance between freedom of speech and mutual respect.
In some activities, you will find specific tips that we urge you to follow in order to ensure that it runs smoothly, combining both professionalism and creativity to adapt each activity to its specific context.
Why should I use JAMMIN ToolBox?
JAMMIN ToolBox is meant for youth workers who will be working with young migrants to support them in integration in the community in general (through NFE activities, various tools and artistic forms) and for youth workers and trainers to use these tools and activities to work with general population of young people with the aim to discuss topics related to migration, xenophobia, intercultural learning.
One of the main objectives is reaching young refugees and migrants and empowering them to be proactive recognized actors in local communities, changing existing negative narratives into positive ones by using art.
Here you can find some NEEDS/CHALLENGES/LEARNING PROCESS you can take on while using JAMMIN ToolBox:
- more culture and education on xenophobia racism;
- moving out of comfort zone to challenge the differences;
- overcome the disconnection and fear, and promote real interaction and connection;
- applying arts to NFE (non formal education) with the with the people from different backgrounds;
- building space and opportunities to mingle;
- to create a space where refugees/immigrants/asylum seekers interact with each other;
- real life encounters of people, get to know their stories, visions and versions from individual perspectives-> meeting the narrative.
What to do:
- Create an enabling, safe and comfortable atmosphere.
- Encourage participants to express opinions and ideas based on their own experience.
- Try to foster a culture of mutual respect, a secure environment in which everyone feels comfortable to express his or her opinion.
- Encourage discussion and questions: participants will learn by expressing their doubts or uncertainty.
- Make links with the reality of the participants and with real issues in their environment.
- Be honest. They will respect you more for this and be more likely to open up themselves.
- Trust participants. They need to find the answers for themselves.
- Take suggestions seriously: participants will be more likely to become involved if they feel ownership.
- Appeal to their natural human sympathies. Ask how they feel, or how they would feel if…
- Treat all participants as equals – equal to each other and ‘equal’ to you. You are all only human!
What not to do:
- Don’t condemn any suggestions as ‘useless’, ‘irrelevant’ or ‘stupid’!
- Don’t be patronizing and condescending.
- Don’t allow the group to exclude, ignore, pre-judge or disrespect anyone else: try to establish some basic principles from the outset.
- Don’t try to give lengthy presentations: that will only turn participants off!
- Don’t ‘preach’, or use your position to close an argument.
- Don’t pretend to know if you aren’t sure! Tell them you will find out, or encourage them to do so.
- Don’t feel you need to stick rigidly to what was planned: follow their interests if they prefer to move in another direction.
- Don’t give up if their opinions seem unkind or thoughtless. Show them another perspective.
- Don’t be afraid of argument, turn it into learning points.
- Don’t exclude participants or make assumptions about what they can or can’t do. Humans can be unpredictable!
Bibliography
liaisons – a toolkit for preventing violent extremism through youth information