Trustbuilding
At CNA we no longer dedicate workshops specifically to trustbuilding. Instead, it is an ever- present goal that we work on from the very beginning, with introductions and getting to know each other exercises, and on through all the other topics and workshops. Below we note some of the exercises that focus on trustbuilding.
Examples of Exercises
Wall Newspaper: How Is Trust Lost?
Trajanje: 10 min.
Wall Newspaper: What Contributes to a Feeling of Mutual Trust?
Duration: 10 minutes
Blind Following*
* Inspired by an exercise from: Lünse, Dieter et al. Zivilcourage. 1995. p. 66.
Type of exercise: Small group work, presentations in plenary
Duration: 60–80 minutes
Materials: Blindfolds, chairs
Exercise description
Divide into small groups of six or seven people. In each group, one person wears a blindfold. Using chairs, the others make a small labyrinth that isn’t too difficult to find your way out of. They put one chair inside the labyrinth for the person with the blindfold to sit on. They stand around the labyrinth and, one by one, they give the person with the blindfold precise instructions that will lead them to the assigned chair (e.g., “take two steps forward”, or “turn left”, or “take half a step back”). The person with the blindfold cannot use their hands and should keep them next to their sides. When they manage to sit down on the chair, they have navigated the labyrinth; they can take off the blindfold and rejoin the others. A new person is blindfolded and taken through the labyrinth until everyone has had a turn.
Evaluation
Suggested questions for evaluating the exercise:
- How did you feel issuing instructions?
- How did you feel making your way through the labyrinth?
- Which role was more difficult?
- What did you notice?
Labyrinth
Type of exercise: Small group work, presentations in plenary
Duration: 60–80 minutes
Materials: Blindfolds, chairs
Exercise description
Divide into small groups of six or seven people. In each group, one person wears a blindfold. Using chairs, the others make a small labyrinth that isn’t too difficult to find your way out of. They put one chair inside the labyrinth for the person with the blindfold to sit on. They stand around the labyrinth and, one by one, they give the person with the blindfold precise instructions that will lead them to the assigned chair (e.g., “take two steps forward”, or “turn left”, or “take half a step back”). The person with the blindfold cannot use their hands and should keep them next to their sides. When they manage to sit down on the chair, they have navigated the labyrinth; they can take off the blindfold and rejoin the others. A new person is blindfolded and taken through the labyrinth until everyone has had a turn.
Evaluation
Suggested questions for evaluating the exercise:
- How did you feel issuing instructions?
- How did you feel making your way through the labyrinth?
- Which role was more difficult?
- What did you notice?
Elephant Walk
Type of exercise: Interactive, experiential exercise
Duration: 90 minutes
Materials: Blindfolds, tables, chairs, textiles, other props
Exercise description
Before the workshop, ask participants to bring something to the workshop that they can use as a blindfold (a scarf, kerchief, T-shirt, etc.).
- Take the participants out of the room where the “labyrinth” will be. Give them the following instructions: “The goal of this exercise is to make your way through a labyrinth. You will all be blindfolded except for one person who will be the Eyes. You will have 12 minutes to agree on a strategy and to elect someone to be the Eyes. While making your way through the labyrinth, the Eyes is not allowed to touch other members of the group or to talk to them. You can do one test run in the labyrinth. This will be your chance to try out your strategy and to see if the signals and signs you agreed on are working.”
- While the group is strategising, construct a labyrinth in the workshop room: use chairs, tables and other props. Think about the path that the group has to travel, for example jumping over a chair, going under a table, getting past a hanging textile, etc., but make sure it is not too difficult.
- When the 12 minutes are up, the trainer brings the Eyes into the room to show and explain the path to them. It’s best to take the Eyes through the labyrinth once. The Eyes then go back for everyone else and take them through the labyrinth using the signals they agreed on.
- After their test run, the group has five minutes to improve on their system of signs for communicating. Let them know that new obstacles will be added to the labyrinth.
- While the group is strategising, make a new path that is somewhat more complicated than the previous one. Again, bring the Eyes in and take them through the labyrinth.
- While the group is making their way through the labyrinth, the trainers should get in their way. Start with small distractions and build up to more difficult ones: make noises, give false signals imitating the signs that the group makes, throw “bombs”, throw balloons at them, tickle them with a feather, etc. The opportunities are endless. The point of the distractions is to make the task more difficult and to increase stress levels, up to a reasonable point. Make sure that you don’t go too far and also that the task isn’t too easy.
Evaluation
Suggested questions for evaluating the exercise:
- What was this experience like?
- How did you elect the Eyes?
- How did you agree on the signals?
- How did you make this decision?
- How did the Eyes feel?
- Were there other special roles?