Planning Work on Peacebuilding in the Local Community

Planning Work on Peacebuilding in the Local Community

Materials: A few copies of the handout, a large piece of paper, markers

Exercise description

Step 1. Three participants from different communities  are  given  a  task  beforehand  (a  few days)  to  prepare  a  presentation  in  order  to  make other  participants more  familiar  with  the  issues  in their communities (those relevant to the work of peacebuilding). They present what they have prepared and others have the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification.

Step 2. Participants choose one of the presented communities. Three working groups are formed according to chosen local communities (it would be good to have a more or less equal number of participants in each group). They should imagine that they live in the chosen community. Their task is to choose one specific issue relevant to the work of peacebuilding and to develop an approach relating to the issue. Each group receives a handout outlining the task and a series of questions that can help in the course of the work:

“Your task is to choose an issue you will focus on and to develop an approach relevant to this issue.”

Handout with guiding questions:

  1. How do you decide on what is the issue? (Why this specifically?)
  2. What are your goals?
  3. Define the principles of your actions.
  4. What are your strengths/weaknesses? Which capacities are you missing?
  5. What resources do you use in order to get to know the environment?
  6. With whom is it important to establish cooperation? In what way are you doing that? (Who are your potential allies?)
  7. How do you want the community to see you? (What kind of image do you want to project?)
  8. What are the possible negative side-effects?
  9. What concrete steps are you able to carry out? Why these?
  10. Three issues that matter to you and are not on the list.

The handout for printing on A4 format is available for downloading here.

Step 3. After completing the work, groups take their place in the hot seat one by one, and present what they did, while the rest of the group asks questions and provides feedback.

Step 4. Everyone has the opportunity to reflect and write down on post-its: What was difficult for you in this task? What dilemmas do you have? Questions that are left unanswered? A brief discussion in plenary follows.

Step 5. Wall newspaper: What insights did you gain about the work in the local community? The wall newspaper is made in the plenary.

Type of exercise:

Plenary work, Small groups work

Duration:

90-180 min

Notice:

Possible difficulties:

Related Workshops:

Peace activism and nonviolent action
Peacebuilding

Workshop example:

Peace Activism and Nonviolent Action 2