MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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Instructions
Ask participants what they understand by the term “discrimination”. Can they distinguish
between “discrimination” and “racism”?
Provide them with the following definition and explain that “racism” is normally
used to describe an attitude to particular groups of people, whereas “discrimination”
expresses behaviour towards people, often on the basis of racist attitudes. Explain
that discrimination is forbidden under international law, and under most national
laws as well.
The term “racial discrimination” shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or
preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose
or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal
footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural or any other field of public life.
from the International Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Invite participants to get into groups of four to six people, and explain that the
task of each group is to discuss instances of racial discrimination and select one
to show the rest of the group. The group should present their story in the form
of a “sculpture” by arranging themselves into a static image that expresses what
happened.
Give the groups 20-30 minutes for discussion and to think about their sculpture.
Then bring them together to view the sculptures.
After each group has shown its sculpture, while they continue to hold the pose, invite
other participants to make alterations to the sculpture in order to “remove” the act of
discrimination. They can ask people to change places, change the expressions on their
faces, alter an individual pose or make any other changes that would help to remove
the discrimination. When the group feels that the sculpture has been transformed,
move onto the next group’s sculpture.
When all the sculptures have been transformed, bring everyone together for the
debriefing.
Debriefing and evaluation
What are your feelings at the end of this exercise? Did you find it challenging to think
about instances of discrimination?
Did you identify common characteristics of racist or discriminatory behaviour
in the stories you discussed?
Are you able to identify common “solutions” that address such behaviour?
Why do you think that racist attitudes towards minorities are so common? Do
you think that you are ever guilty of discriminatory or racist thoughts?
Who are the people most likely to experience racial discrimination in our societies?
Does it differ much between “European” and “Mediterranean” societies?
Did watching these sculptures help you to identify things that can be done to
prevent such behaviour or such thoughts?
MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work