PRA-Manual Embracing Participitation tools-only.pdf - PACA

EMBRACING PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT: Wisdom from the Field 3.71
2.17 Role-plays
Role-play is an enacted presentation of a real life situation. Participants can
present their own experiences or those of which they have heard or seen. Roleplays
can vary from very short sketches, which present an event or a character,
to longer ones which may cover several aspects of a theme.
Role-play helps in building rapport with the group as well as in boosting their
self-confidence. Usually role-plays are fun and provide an opportunity to understand
other people’s view points.
Sometimes role-play takes up too much time,
especially when the participants feel hesitant
to take part. Some may find it embarrassing
and threatening to expose themselves in front
of others. It is best not to impose, but the
facilitator should try to explain the objectives
of such an exercise and its use.
Role-play should be followed by a discussion
on the presentation by which the problem or
issue is analyzed and their solutions are
discussed.
During the participatory appraisals with the
adolescents in Zambia, we had several
impromptu role-playing sessions presented by
the adolescents. Usually they depicted how
boys approach the girls, and the consequences
they face after they are involved in a sexual relationship. Another common
theme of the role-playing was how the sugar daddies approach the young girls
and persuade them to have sex with them. Adolescents enjoyed role-playing
and it helped in building rapport with them. It was possible to initiate discussion
on many sensitive subjects after these issues were presented in role-play.
Volunteers enact a sequence at school, in order to start a dialogue with younger school
children on the negative impact of casual sex. Zambia
Part 3
Role-play continues to be used as an effective communication medium by the
adolescent peer counselors during the implementation phase of the PALS
project.