MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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exclude some of the cards. Try to ensure throughout the discussions that no-one is
being made to feel uncomfortable because of the views they hold.
The first few stages should be conducted in silence; you will almost certainly
have to remind participants! These stages should not take longer than about 5
minutes and are important only to get the cards “on the table”.
The discussion phase is the most important part and you should encourage the
groups to try to reach a genuine consensus – rather than voting, for example, to
reach a majority decision. Group discussions will be most effective if there are
four or five people in each group and if there is a good gender and cultural
balance.
In the debriefing, some participants will want to return to the debates on
specific issues. You should try not to devote too much time to this, because
others will probably feel they have already covered the main arguments. Try to
keep to issues about the process and what it showed about the group, about
different cultural perceptions and in particular, about the concept of gender.
You can always return to specific issues later on.
Variations
You could make use of the statements various other ways to provoke discussion: for
example, using a method like “Where do you stand?” in Compass, or “Electioneering”.
Ideas for action
Find out whether there are any organisations working in the local community on
gender issues. Make contact with them and invite someone to come in and speak to
the group. Encourage the group to prepare a list of questions beforehand
Suggestions for follow-up
Look at some of the other activities in this T-kit on gender – either No. 9 “Ideal woman
– ideal man” or No. 5 “Challenge beauty”. The group may also want to discuss further
issues relating to family life: a good activity for this is “Guess who is coming to dinner”
from the education pack, All different – All equal.
Further information
The issue of women’s participation is well covered in the report Citizenship matters: the
participation of young women and minorities in Euro-Med youth projects, edited by Ingrid
Ramberg (Council of Europe, 2006). The book can be ordered through the Council of Europe
bookshop at http://book.coe.int/EN/.
The methodology in this activity was adapted from “Human rights” in The individual and
society by the Citizenship Foundation.
Turn it over!