MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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Instructions
Introduce the aims of the activity, the time schedule and practical details of the task.
Explain that participants will work in small groups in different parts of the city, to
explore the local history.
Ask them to form groups of between three and six people, and show them the
neighbourhoods you have selected and marked on the maps.
Provide each group with a map, paper for making notes, and the list of questions
(see Handouts). Go through the handout with them and make sure that the task
is clear to everyone.
Explain that the groups will have two hours to carry out the activity, after which
time they will all return to discuss the results in plenary. Encourage groups to
think about how they will present their findings to the other groups.
When the groups arrive back, give them 20-30 minutes to think how they will
present their findings to the others and to prepare any visual material. Provide
them with flipchart paper and marker pens, and remind them that they need to
address the points outlined in the handout.
Invite each group to present their findings to the others. Then run a general debriefing
and evaluation of the activity.
Debriefing and evaluation
Begin by asking each participant in turn to choose one word to express his/her feelings
about the activity. Then use some of the following questions to explore conclusions
and general impressions:
Was it hard to find signs of the past in the neighbourhood you were given?
Did you approach people to receive information? If so, what was their reaction?
Did any of the information you gathered conflict with your existing knowledge or
with what is said about the area in public documents (for example, in guidebooks
or articles in the press)?
Did you find any evidence of groups that once lived in the area but do not any
longer? If so, how do you think this came about?
Were you surprised by any of the findings of the other groups, or by what they
considered to be historical signs? If so, what was surprising?
Did you notice any similarities with your own city? Do you see any differences?
Did you find any features that might be common throughout the Euro-Mediterranean
region? Did you find anything that might be specific to this region?
Tips for the facilitator
The activity can be useful as an exploration of history; but, if you also want to explore
multicultural aspects, it is important to speak with local people beforehand in order
to understand the real history of different communities and to identify possible risks.
When creating the groups, try to make them as diverse a group as possible.
MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work