MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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Did the activity help to change your perception about other religions regarding,
for example, gender equality or tolerance of other religions?
In the Euro-Mediterranean context, do you think that ignorance and prejudices
about religions and beliefs play a role in peoples’ perceptions about each other?
Are all religions and beliefs represented in this group respected and practised
on an equal footing with the predominant religion and belief in your country?
What can we do as youth workers, multipliers or young people to help make
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights true for everyone?
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes
freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community
with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching,
practice, worship and observance.
Tips for the facilitator
This activity is designed for a multicultural group, such as those typically involved in
Euro-Mediterranean youth exchanges. You may need to substantially adapt it if using
it with potentially monocultural or mono-religious groups.
It is important to run the activity in an easy-going manner. Pay particular importance
to the following risks:
– Do not put or allow pressure on participants to tell or explain more than
they want or feel they can. We are not always necessarily aware of all the
theological or scientific reasons behind some practices or belief.
– Be aware of some participants “taking over” others’ religions (there are always
people who feel that they know the ‘real’ reasons or explanations for this and
that). Make sure that they do not take over.
– Avoid putting participants in a defensive position about their religion or beliefs
(e.g. “how can you be of that religion and accept …?”)
Let the discussion flow naturally and intervene when you feel that the question
has been exhausted or that there is a risk of going too far.
Intervene when you feel participants may be placed in an uncomfortable situation
or when “dominance” attitudes surface.
You may also bring in your own knowledge when you feel it is necessary to
complement the information provided by participants or to bring in information
about religions not necessarily represented in the group.
Most of the activity is based on the assumption that religions have many things
in common, at least as many as their differences. Not everyone, however, is able
to explain why this and that is practised in their own religion, especially if they
were raised and educated within a certain religion from an early age (and this
is very normal!). In this aspect, religion is very much like culture: you tend to
assume your values and cultural patterns as “natural”.
The distinction between religion and belief is very fluid. By referring to both,
we want to emphasise situations where religions or “sects” are not recognised
as religions and also the fact that people who may be atheist or agnostic have
nevertheless convictions and beliefs as important as anyone else’s.
Believers