MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

348
Give them 15-20 minutes for this. Then ask them to get into groups of four or five.
Try to ensure that the groups include representatives from different regions.
Ask the groups to share and discuss the different accounts. Invite them to try to
produce a summary of the group’s work, concentrating on:
– What are the main similarities and differences between people’s personal
histories?
– Do the differences or similarities seem to depend more on regional/cultural
factors, or on personal factors, or on something else?
Give them 40 minutes for this discussion. Bring the groups together and ask them to
give a summary of their discussions. Then move on to the debriefing.
Debriefing and evaluation
Do you think the similarities between young people’s histories in the Euro-Mediterranean
region are more significant than the differences, or vice versa?
1. What was most interesting for you about other people’s histories?
2. Were you surprised by anything you learnt about another individual or another
region?
3. How easy was it to draw up your own personal history? How did you choose
what to put in and what to leave out?
4. Did you give more weight to internal or external influences: did things happen
to you, or did you make them happen?
5. To what extent do you see your personal history as inevitable? Do you think you
could have shaped your history differently?
6. How much do you think that past events should influence the future?
7. Can you draw any lessons from this exercise about the way that History is written?
How do you think historians “decide” which events to include and which to leave
out?
8. Can you draw any lessons about history in the Euro-Mediterranean region, or the
way it is presented? Could you draw a different history of the region!?
Tips for the facilitator
This activity may be difficult or traumatic for participants if they have experienced a
painful past, so you need to be sure that people feel comfortable in the group and that
you will be able to deal with any problems that arise. You may also need to be aware
of potential conflicts between members, for example, if their national groups have a
history of conflict or oppression.
Allow participants to choose whatever medium they wish to express their personal
histories, and emphasise that the only thing it is important to include is what
they think is important. They do not have to include certain events if they do
not wish to or if they do not think they are relevant.
MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work