Why Reconciliation?
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description The participants should imagine themselves having to explain to someone why we need reconciliation and find arguments in support of it. One person...
Who Is This?
Materials: Small pieces of paper with the names of all participants, “hat”, paper and pencils/felt-tip pens Exercise description The small pieces of paper with the names of the participants...
Who is Supposed to Reconcile with Whom/What?
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers, felt-tip pens Exercise description Flipchart papers are laid out on the floor (enough of them so that a number of participants can write on them...
Where I Come From
Everyone has a few minutes to think about the place they come from (however they understand it – city/country/region) and the things they like about it. Then, sitting in a...
Where Do My Fears Come From?
Materials: Paper, pencils, flipchart paper, sticky tape Exercise description Everyone works independently, thinking about “My fears” and “Where do they come from?” and noting down their thoughts. They have...
When is War Justified?
Materials: Paper, pencils, flipchart paper Exercise description Everyone sits in a circle with a paper and pencil. They have a few minutes to note down their answer to the...
What Tells Us That We Are (Not) Living in Peace? What Could Lead to a New War?
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Split into three groups. Each group is tasked with preparing a wall newspaper about one of the following topics: What tells us that...
What Should We Remember as a Society?
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Split into smaller groups. Step 1:Prepare a wall newspaper about “What do we remember (from the recent past) as a society?” Step 2:...
What is the Role of Women/Men in Society?
Materials: Post-its in two colours Exercise description Distribute the post-its so that women and men get different colours, e.g. green for women and yellow for men. The task is...
What I Liked/What Bothered Me in Our Communication
Materials: Post-its, pencils, flipchart paper Exercise description Everyone is given a few post-its. More post-its are kept on hand in case someone needs them. The participants are tasked with...
What I (Don’t) Like in Communication with Others
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description On the wall or flipchart stand, put up a large paper with the title What I don’t like in communication with others. The...
What Can Others Do?
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Split into four mixed small groups. The small groups discuss: “What would I like to hear from others and what would make it...
What Can I Do?
Materials: Large pieces of paper, markers/felt- tips Exercise description Several large pieces of paper are placed on the floor and each of them has one of the following questions/titles:...
What Bothers Me About War Stories? What Is Missing?
Exercise description In small groups, the participants discuss what bothers them in war stories and what they think is missing. Discussions in the small groups are followed by a discussion...
What Bothers Me About Us Is…
Exercise description The participants split into same-gender pairs. The topic is “What bothers me about us women/men is...” First one person speaks (for about two minutes) and the other just...
Wall Newspaper
Wall newspapers function similarly to brainstorming, with the facilitator not only acting as a recorder, but moderating the process during which participants present writing suggestions and ask clarification questions, partially...
Violence Barometer
Exercise description Suggested statements for the barometer: If I felt under threat, I would use violence in such circumstances. Better violence than cowardice. A victim can be the perpetrator of...
Venn Diagrams (Sets)
Materials: Papers with Venn diagrams (sets) Everyone receives a handout with as many Venn diagrams (three ellipses that intersect, see picture) as there are participants. Write the name of one...
Using a Chart to Analyse Conflict
Materials: Printed out charts for all participants Exercise description The participants are handed out copies of the conflict analysis chart. Their task is to think of a conflict they were...
Uncomfortable Chairs*
Exercise description All the participants receive a card with one of the following instructions: “Put all the chairs in a circle. You have 10 minutes to complete the task.” “Put...
Tram
Materials: Five chairs Exercise description Set up five chairs next to each other (like seats on a tram) so that the whole group can see them. The second and fourth...
Training Motivation
Going around in a circle, each person answers the questions: Why did you decide to attend this training? What attracted you and motivated you?
Tower
Materials: A few pairs of scissors and sticky tape, old newspapers or used flipchart paper Exercise description The participants split into groups of four or five people. All the groups...
To My Wall
Exercise description Split into two groups. The groups line up facing each other so that each person from one group has a pair from the other. The pairs stand with...
Three Sentences About Me
Everyone has to write three sentences about themselves – but one sentence has to be a lie. Everyone reads what they have written and the others guess which sentence is...
Three Events that Affected My Engagement
A timeline is drawn on the board or flipchart representing three periods: before the war; during the war; after the war. For each of the three periods, each participant writes...
This Picture Speaks about Me
The collection of postcards and photographs is placed in the centre of the circle. Everyone has a few minutes to look through them and pick one that speaks about them...
Things I (Don’t) Like About Myself / About Others in Teamwork…
Materials: Post-its, flipchart paper Exercise description Everyone is given a few post-its. Each person writes down their answers to the following questions: What have I noticed about myself in the...
Then they discuss in small groups, without feedback in the plenary.
Exercise description Split into small groups (of four, for example). Discussion topics: - What do I find hardest in conflicts? - What dilemmas do I have? - In which situations...
Taboos
Materials: Flipchart paper, marker Exercise description The whole group works together to produce a wall newspaper about: “What taboos are present in our society about the violent past?” This...
Suggestions for the Next Training
Materials: Big paper, felt-tips Exercise description Write the words “less”, “more” or “the same” on three separate sheets of paper. Participants have the task of writing down on these...
Strengths and Weaknesses in Ways of Decision Making
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Split into four small groups. Each group is assigned one way of decision making: compromise, consensus, voting and “follow the leader”. The task is...
Smarties
Materials: A few hundred Smarties(or similar sweets) and small dishes for all the participants Exercise description The whole group sits in a semicircle and everyone takes a small dish. Before...
Small Groups Discussion about Communication
Exercise description Split into small groups (of 4, for example). Discussion topics: How do I react when I’m bothered by someone’s way of communicating (use concrete examples)? A good reaction...
Situations When We Were Afraid
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Split into small groups of three or four. In small groups, discuss the topic: “A situation when I felt fear”. Back in plenary,...
Situations When I Had Power
Materials: Large piece of paper, markers Exercise description Divide into small groups. Topics for discussion: ͳ A situation when you had power and how you felt about it. ͳ...
Similarities and Differences 2*
Materials: Worksheets, pencils Exercise description The participants are given copies of the worksheet with the following questions: Three things I like Three things I don’t like ͳ Three things we...
Similarities and Differences
Exercise description The participants fill out the worksheet (15 minutes) with the following questions: Three things that I have in common with the rest of the group; Three things that...
Rotating Triplets of Peace Activism
Exercise description Type of exercise: Rotating Triplets Possible questions: How would you describe the work in your organisation to your neighbour (someone who knows nothing about it)? What is...
Rotating Threes
Groups of three chairs are set up to make a circle (see illustration). Participants that make up the group of three are divided into person A, person B and person...
Reflection Groups
The Reflection Groups are conceived of as a space for reflection and exchange among participants without the presence of the trainers. They are formed during the first or second day...
Reconciliation Has Arrived!
Materials: Multicoloured post-its, pencils, Flipchart paper Exercise description Everyone gets a few multicoloured post-its (have extra post-its on hand if needed). The task is to imagine that reconciliation has...
Reconciliation Fishbowl
Exercise description The fishbowl method is described in detail at the beginning of this section on p. 65. There are four chairs in the fishbowl. They are taken by...
Reconciliation Barometer
Exercise description Method barometar Suggestions of issues: Nation building is part of the reconciliation process. Recognising that an injustice has been committed and apologising are preconditions for reconciliation. Prosecuting war...
Reconciliation and Me
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Flipchart papers are laid out on the floor, each with one of the following questions: What is my biggest challenge in reconciliation? With...
Quick Situations (A version for war veterans)
Exercise description This exercise unfolds the same way as the Quick Situations exercise but this one is specifically tailored to groups of war veterans. You get a call from an...
Quick Situations
Exercise description Read out a scenario (that simply demands a response) and ask the question: “What do you do?” The participants share their ideas about possible reactions. The goal isn’t...
Questions and Dilemmas I Am Trying to Solve
Flipchart papers are placed on the floor. The participants write their questions and/or dilemmas on them (relevant to the topic of the training). After ten minutes or so, someone from...
Prejudice Barometer
Exercise description The barometer method Suggested statements for the barometer: I have prejudice. I have the right to my prejudice. Prejudice leads to discrimination.
Powerful Chair
Materials: Chair Exercise description One chair is turned to face the whole group. One by one participants take this seat and call out several sentences that start with: “I...
Plenary Presentations with Started Sentences
Everyone sits in a circle. The started sentences are displayed so everyone can see them. One by one, each person introduces themselves in plenary and completes the started sentences: ͳ...
Places that are Important to Me (The Map)
A map of the former Yugoslavia, Europe or the world (it can be a geographic map, road map or just contours drawn on flipchart paper) is put up on the...
Peacebuilding Priorities in Different Countries
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description The participants split based on the countries they come from. Their task is to define the priorities of peacebuilding in their countries. They...
Peacebuilding and Me
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers, felt-tip pens Exercise description Everyone thinks about the following questions on their own: “Things that confuse and annoy me the most about peacebuilding. What don’t...
Participants’ Expectations
Hand out the different coloured post-its. Give the participants a few minutes to write down their answers to the following questions: - What do I expect from this training? -...
Opening the Fist*
Exercise description Divide participants into pairs. Person A in the pair has a clenched fist and person B has the task of opening the other person’s fist. Then the roles...
Open Team
The Open Team are evaluation meetings by the training team after each work day that two or three participants can join. The Open Team gives the team an opportunity to...
One of My Needs
Exercise description Everyone stands in a circle and everyone has the opportunity to express one of the needs that they have in terms of the group.
News from the Future
Materials: “News from the Future” prepared in advance Exercise description Read out the following three pieces of “news from the future”: 1. The Association of BiH Army Veterans welcomed...
My Three Identities
Materials: Paper and pencils Exercise description Everyone writes down a few of their identities and then chooses three to read out loud. Then one person stands up and reads...
My Questions About Gender Roles in Society/Gender Equality
Materials: Paper and pencils Everyone writes down their questions about the topic of the workshop. Then three small groups are formed: “female” – for women who want to talk with...
My Name
Each person in the circle says their name and tells a story about it: what it means, how it was given to them, who gave it to them etc.
My Foreign Friend
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers, felt-tip pens Exercise description Determine categories beforehand and write them out as titles on flipchart papers/wall newspapers. Examples of categories: my friend from another region, my...
My Definition of Peace
Materials: Different coloured paper, felt-tip pens Exercise description Everyone in the group writes their definition of peace on a different coloured piece of paper. Then a “colourful sea” of...
My Contribution to Reconciliation
Exercise description The task is for each participant to say what they see as their contribution to reconciliation, taking turns around the circle. Before they start, they should be given...
My Attitude to Conflict
Materials: Paper, felt-tip pens Exercise description Ask the participants to write down three associations about conflict, one per piece of paper. Then the papers are laid out on the floor...
Multicoloured Eyes
Type of exercise: Multicoloured barometer Exercise description Materials: Coloured paper, papers with statements prepared beforehand A few sets of papers are prepared beforehand, each with a statement/sentence. The papers should...
Method Barometer
Prepare statements beforehand based on the topic. Determine two “poles” (end positions) in the room: for instance, one wall can stand for one pole (strong agreement with a statement) and...
Let Me Tell You a Picture
Materials: A picture with a lot of details Exercise description The participants split into three groups. A volunteer from each group leaves the room. The trainer shows the volunteers...
Let Me Introduce You
The participants split into pairs. Everyone tells their partner some information about themselves. The other person listens carefully and tries to commit this information to memory. They then switch roles....
Let Me Introduce Myself
Everyone takes a sheet of paper. They write their name in the middle. Then they write: in the upper left corner: how I feel at the moment in the upper...
Leadership Barometer
Exercise description The barometer method Go through three to five statements. Suggested statements for the barometer: A leader must be a figure of authority. Any complex task requires...
Introductions in Pairs
Everyone stands in a circle. The trainer tells the participants to find a partner with whom they believe they have the most in common and then sets a topic for...
Identity Barometer
Exercise description The barometer method Suggested statements for the barometer: I am a patriot. I have a better understanding with people of my religion. Conflicts are inevitable among people of...
I Will… / I Need…
Materials: Different coloured post-its, pencils Exercise description Distribute several post-its in various colours to participants. Participants should think about what they have gained from the training, what they have...
I Will Remember
Materials: Several large pieces of paper, felt-tip pens Exercise description Use several large flipchart papers to make a “path” long enough so that several people can approach it at...
I Compete When…
Materials: Flipchart paper, pens Exercise description Split into three groups. Each group is tasked with preparing a wall newspaper about one of the following topics: - I compete when... -...
I Am Telling You a Story
An exercise for waking up the imagination. Prepare cards (papers) so that each has one word written on it (nouns). The number of cards is three times bigger than the...
How We’re Mutually Connected
Exercise description One person stands in the middle of the room and invites someone from the group to briefly explain what connects them. Both persons now remain in the middle...
How I Became a Man/Woman
Materials: Copies of the questionnaire Exercise description The participants split into smaller groups of four or five. Their task is to discuss in their small groups: “How I became a...
How Do I See the Next Five Years of My Life?
Materials: Paper, felt-tip pens, colouring pencils Exercise description Everyone should think for themselves about where they see themselves in the next five years and then make a graphic representation...
Fulfilled and Unfulfilled Expectations
Materials: Big paper, felt-tips Exercise description This exercise can be done if at the beginning of the training the participants wrote down their expectations for the training. Draw a...
Fishbowl: Agreement on Working Together
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Fishbowl Method Step 1 – Split into three groups. Each group prepares a proposal for an agreement on working together. Each group chooses two...
Fishbowl
The Fishbowlis a method for discussing a topic or making a decision. The participants sit in a circle with four to six chairs placed in the middle of the circle...
Finishing Sentences
Materials: Big paper, felt-tips Exercise description Big pieces of paper are everywhere on the ground and there is a sentence that has been started on each of them. Participants...
Falling
Materials: Table or chair Exercise description A volunteer stands on a table or chair. They stand with their body upright and their arms by their side. Then they fall...
Exploring Expectations: Tree of Expectations
Distribute the post-its. Give the participants a few minutes to write down their answers to the following questions: ͳ What would I like to see happen in this training? (on...
Exploring Expectations: Travel Bag
The participants draw a travel bag on the paper. They divide it into two equal parts. In one part they list What I brought to this training and in the...
Example of an Evaluation Questionnaire
What was the most significant experience for you at the training? What do you think you got with this training that you can put to use in the community...
Drawing on Your Neighbour’s Back
Materials: Paper and pencils Exercise description Everyone stands in a circle and turns sideways so that they are looking at the back of the person next to them. One...
Drawing Battle
Materials: Paper and pencils Exercise description Everyone splits up into pairs of person A and person B. The participants are asked not to talk during the exercise. All the A...
Definitions of Conflict
Materials: Paper/card, multiple sheets for each participant Exercise description The participants take one or more cards and legibly write out their answer to the question: “What is conflict?” They write...
Definition of Violence
Materials: Paper and pencils Exercise description Split into pairs or threes. Each pair or group of three is to come up with their definition of violence. The definitions are...
Dealing with the Past Barometer
Exercise description Barometer method Suggestions of issues: There is no such thing as collective responsibility. It would be best for international tribunals to prosecute war crimes. We must not...
Cutting Paper
Materials: Large paper and scissors Exercise description Call for volunteers who want to participate in the exercise, a total of seven people. Their task is to first think...
Culture of Memory Before and After the 1990s
Materials: Flipchart paper, marker Exercise description Plenary discussion about characteristics of the culture of memory before the 1990s and after the wars. One member of the training team writes...
Creating a Certificate
Materials: Coloured paper, pencils, small pieces of paper with the names of everyone written on them, “hat” Exercise description Write the names of everyone present beforehand on small pieces...
Cooperation Agreement
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Participants give suggestions for terms of the Cooperation Agreement. Someone from the training team writes these down so everyone can see them. If...
Conflict Barometer
Exercise description The barometer method Suggested statements for the barometer: Every conflict is bad. Conflict is the same as violence. You should show your emotions in a conflict. The victim...
Concentric Circles of Introduction
The chairs are set up in two concentric circles, so that each chair in one circle faces a chair in the other (see illustration). The number of chairs is equal...
Commendations
Materials: Paper and pencils Exercise description The participants write a commendation for a person they know on a piece of paper. All the papers are collected into a “hat”....
Come and Go
Exercise description Participants are divided into two groups – group A and group B. The groups line up to face each other with a few metres between the lines so...
Circle of Trust
Exercise description Everyone stands in a circle with one person in the middle (make sure to start off with someone from the training team). The person in the middle stands...
Choosing the King/Queen of the Group
Materials: Post-its, pencils, chair Exercise description Instructions: You have unlimited time to pick one of you to be the king/queen of the group, but without talking. Evaluation Suggested...
Chair Statues About Power
Materials: 6–7 chairs Exercise description Exercise description Instructions: The task is to use six or seven chairs to construct a statue that symbolises power. After the first person constructs...
Chair Statues About “The Power of Nonviolence”
Materials: 6–7 chairs Exercise description Exercise description Instructions: The task is to use six or seven chairs to construct a statue that symbolises the power of nonviolence. After the...
Centipede*
Materials: Chairs or other items to serve as obstacles Exercise description The participants split into two groups. Each group forms a “centipede”: They stand in a column, eyes closed, with...
Associations: Women, Men
Exercise description The participants split into two groups: women and men. All the participants in both groups get two post- its each. They have 30 seconds to write down the...
Associations: Prejudice and Discrimination
Materials: Post-its, Flipchart paper, pencils Exercise description For this exercise, you need to prepare a dozen terms denoting different social groups. For example: religious persons, soldiers, feminists, fundamentalists, female...
Assigning Identity
Exercise description Everyone writes down five of their identity markers on a piece of paper so others can’t see. Then the participants split into three groups. Each group is given...
Alternatives
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers Exercise description Step 1. Brainstorming in the plenary: “How would you describe the situation in your societies?” Then we mark the notes that describe what...
Active Listening Exercise
Materials: Flipchart paper, marker Exercise description Split the group into pairs. Person A takes five minutes to tell their partner, person B, about something that angered them recently or...
A River of Identities
Materials: A stack of A4 paper Exercise description Everyone gets five pieces of A4 paper. Task: On each one write in large letters one thing that means a lot...
A Pebble for a Present
Materials: Pebbles Exercise description The morning or evening before the exercise, ask participants to go for a short walk, alone or with company, and to each find one pebble that...
3 + 2 Identities
Materials: Small papers of different colours, pencils Exercise description The participantssitina circle.Everyonegetsthreepapers(notes) of one colour and two of another colour. They are told to write three of their identities on...
“Power” Barometer
Materials: Large piece of paper, markers Exercise description Barometer method Suggestions of issues: Power is a negative attribute. Everyone wants power. I am powerful. Power can always be abused...
“Nonviolence” Barometer
Method Barometar Exercise description Suggestions of issues: You should approach your adversary with trust. Nonviolence does not take advantage of the adversary’s weaknesses. Nonviolence yields results only if the...
“Little Red Riding Hood” Story
Materials: "Little Red Riding Hood” from the wolf’s perspective “Little Red Riding Hood” Story Exercise description In the plenary, read this version of “Little Red Riding Hood”, which is...
“Husband, Wife, Compote” Story
Materials: Paper and pencils Exercise description The participants split into two or three groups. A volunteer from each group is taken aside and the story below is read out...