Most people don’t put too much focus into discovering what makes them feel good, what are their talents and hobbies, what are the fields they are particularly good at. When we use our talents we become more efficient in changing the world for better. We can see it in the stories of changemakers from all over the world! During the workshop, participants will hear stories of different changemakers, they will also have a chance of discovering their own talents and interests.
Author: Anna Książek
Translation: Agnieszka Bernaś-Sobieraj
Proofreading: Andrea Pucci
Main objectives:
Discovering talents, passions and interests of the participants.
During the workshop participants will:
Try different kinds of activities to identify those they enjoy;
Identify their talents and interests;
Learn the importance of patience and persistence in realizing their passions;
Get to know stories of changemakers from around the world
1. A letter from travellers
Dear everyone!
Do you remember us? We’re Anna and Andrea - a Polish-Italian couple who travel around the world seeking inspiring stories of changemakers. A changemaker is a person who changes the world, leaving it a bit better than it was. We had visited South-East Asia and Europe, and we spent last year in South America. We have gathered over 300 stories of different changemakers. They are so interesting and so inspiring that we want to share them also with you! The most interesting thing is that almost every changemaker had started their journey of changing the world from developing their own talents and interests. We met changemakers who love playing instruments, or those who spend their free time doing sport. We have talked to people who adore chocolate, reading, cooking… And it turns out that each of those interests may be used to make a change! But first, you need to discover your special gifts and interests, which is not as easy as it seems. That’s why today we want to invite you to take part in the Market of Interests. During the Market you’ll have a chance to try different things and decide which of them are the most enjoyable for you. You’ll also hear some stories of changemakers and by the end of the meeting you’ll decide if you want to continue your journey with us and get to know other stories!
Anna and Andrea
You can read about Anna and Andrea’s journey on the website: exchangetheworld.info
2. Market of Interests
For the first 20 – 30 minutes participants may walk around the stalls in the Market of Interests freely, they can try the presented activities. Below, we present the description of 6 example of stalls. However, you can add your own depending on the interests of the participants, available materials, educators etc.
Proposed stalls:
Circus
Here participants may get to know different circus tricks: they can try juggling, poi spinning (weights hanged on chains or strings used also during fire dance), dancing with sash, pantomime etc.
Art – Jewellery
Participants can make different kinds of bracelets and necklaces of crewel and beading. You may also propose making jewellery from recyclable materials.
Art – painting
This is a spot where participants will find different types of crayons, paints, paper. They will have a chance to try different techniques of drawing and painting.
Sport
A spot where participants can do different exercises. You may use balls and other available sport equipments.
Cooking
In this stall, participants will find various fruit, vegetable and other edible products. They can mix them trying to create new interesting tastes.
Music
Here, participants may try playing various instruments, for instance flute, guitar, drums.
After visiting all of the Market stalls, participants choose one of them where they stay for another 20-30 minutes. They can deepen their skills and see the importance of patience and persistence. The people who run the activities should, from the very beginning, emphasise the vital role of these features in changing the world. They will also tell the story of a changemaker who uses this particular quality in his or her project. After telling the story participants are offered a more complex task.
Circus
Story of a changemaker: Learn to fly
Example tasks:
Prepare your own juggling balls from old socks and rice.
Learn to juggle with 3 balls.
Prepare your own poi: weights on a string (you can again use old socks and rice).
Prepare a short pantomime of a given topic (my typical day, the best birthday, dream holidays).
Art – Jewellery
Story of a changemaker: Roma means human
Example tasks:
Prepare a bracelet/necklace using a technique of choice.
Prepare an adorned jewellery box using waste (recycling).
Art – painting
Story of a changemaker: Box of art
Example tasks:
Draw/paint a piece, for example of your group, using a technique of choice.
Sport
Story of a changemaker: Run for change
Example tasks:
Run a given distance as fast as you can.
Prepare a short gymnastics show.
Prepare a short warm up for your group. Your warm up should include exercises for each body part.
Cooking
Story of a changemaker: Sweet happens
Example tasks:
Prepare a salad from the given products.
Contest for the most beautiful sandwich.
Contest for the most delicious dessert.
Music
Story of a changemaker: The sound of garbage
Example tasks:
Make your own instrument using waste (recycling).
Play a song using a chosen instrument.
Sing a chosen song.
3. Summary of the Market of Interests – Presentations
Participants from different stalls present their work. While summing up, ask participants how they felt during their tasks. What have they learned about themselves? What was the most enjoyable? Or maybe they have some other hobby they would like to present to others during the next meeting? Discuss together what hobbies and interests may have children from other parts of the world. Do they like similar activities? Is there anyone interested in travelling? Other cultures? Foreign languages? Are they interested in taking a trip through Europe and South America together with Anna and Andrea and in discovering various changemakers from those places?
4. Finishing the meeting
Teach your participants the group shout to be used while opening and closing meetings about the changemakers (or remind it to them if they had taken part in the workshops presented in the book “Changemakers. Aiming for the good”).
We change the world together
To make everything better
For people and for nature
This is our adventure
Additional tasks for the group:
Together with the participants, organise a new Market of Interests, open for other children. Encourage your participants to run their own stalls.
Discuss what could you do with the things created during the Market (bracelets, paintings, salads etc). Maybe there are people you could give them to and bring them some joy?
Do you see any mistake in the text? Do you want to support us in translating scenarios and stories to different languages? Don't hesitate to contact us! We are constantly looking for people to help us with any language. Let's make together changemaker materials available for more people! --> hello@exchangetheworld.info
More Changemaker stories: exchangetheworld.info
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