MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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Instructions
Begin by asking participants what they understand by the idea of dignity. Ask them
for word associations and see if they can come up with a definition. Give them the
English dictionary definitions of the concept (see “Further information” below) and
ask whether this corresponds to the meaning in their languages.
Put participants in groups of four to six people; give each group a set of photographs.
Show them the diamond-ranking diagram and explain they should arrange the
nine pictures in this shape. At the start, it does not matter which picture goes
where.
Explain that the task is to arrange the photographs according to the concept of
dignity – so the photograph that best corresponds with or illustrates human
dignity should be at the top of the diamond, in position 1. The picture that
corresponds least well should be at the bottom of the diamond, in position 5.
The others should be ranked and placed in the positions in between.
After 20 minutes, invite the groups to walk around and look at the ranking other
groups have given.
Bring the groups together for the debriefing and evaluation.
Debriefing and evaluation
How easy did you find the task? What was the most difficult thing?
How did you try to think about the dignity expressed by each photograph?
Which questions did you ask yourself?
Did you mostly agree in your group? How did you reach agreement when there
were differences of opinion?
Does the ranking in any of the other groups surprise you?
Why is dignity important?
What relation, if any, does this activity have to the concept of human rights?
Provide participants with these extracts from the UDHR, if they are not already aware
of them:
… recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world
from the Preamble to the UDHR;
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 1, UDHR
What do you understand these statements to be saying? Do you agree with the
claims they make?
How do you think we can better ensure “recognition of the inherent dignity …
of all members of the human family”?
What do you see as the main challenges to dignity in your country or in the
Euro-Mediterranean region as a whole?
MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work