Social retreats
TOOLBOX GROUP
Group 1 – whole school approach
AUDIENCE
a multicultural* group of students in their last year of high school together with exchange students (15+5)
*Multicultural doesn’t necessarily mean different ethnical backgrounds. It can be a mix of students from the same school but in different sections (vocational, technical and general sections)
PROJECT PARTNERS
The high school, 2 representatives of AFS Programmes interculturels asbl and a volunteer from Talent for Humanity
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The objective of this three-day retreat is for the students to live an inner experience where they will think about who they are and their relation to the otherness and the world in which they live.
TIME
2 days 1/2
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Day 1 (afternoon) is dedicated to breaking the ice, getting to know each other, setting ground rules, sharing one’s passions, hobbies, practicing active and appreciative listening.
Day 2 consists in telling one’s own path through different methods (storytelling, drawings,…) getting the strengths and assets out of each one’s personal journey then writing one’s own Kasala (a practice of self-praise) and telling it to the audience, exploring the cultural groups the participants belong to and their influence on their identity and personality, overcoming stereotypes and prejudice about another cultural group.
Day 3 (half a day) is meant to explore the conditions required to live together in harmony and see how every individual is involved, as a changemaker, in creating a world where all the individual strengths and skills are valued, shared and contribute collectively to a happier life for everyone.
RECOMMENDATIONS / TIPS
Recommendations from the experience held:
The participants had voluntarily enrolled themselves in the retreat offered (they had to choose among a list of 20 or so offers from different associations). The exchange students were selected because of their good command of French and their optimum integration in their school and home community.
The 20 participants spent the 3 days and nights together in a youth hostel, far from their usual surroundings. The evenings were free, as the days were packed with activities that required both emotional and cognitive involvement.
REFERENCES
For more info on the Kasala technique:
- Kasala as a tool (in French): http://echoscommunication.org/2016/01/05/outils-kasala/
- Jean Kabuta explaining the Kasala: http://www.shamengo.com/en/pioneer/94-jean-kabuta (dubbed in English)
