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Working with Older Volunteers in Manual Intergenerational Projects
Minor exercises before, during and after the exchange
Method: Survey of Perceptions of Other Cultures
Goals/Options:
The aim of this exercise is to make the participants aware of their own perceptions of
people with different cultural backgrounds and to examine these regarding possible stereotypes.
Brief description:
In the run-up to the exchange
Prior to the exchange, participants are requested to present their perceptions and expectations
regarding other participants’ countries of origin. This could be achieved by the use
of facilitation cards containing keywords, which participants should explain in front of
the group. Various subject areas containing possible cultural differences may be suggested
at this stage (see necessary materials below: subject areas for intercultural specifics). Following
the presentation of individual perceptions the group should discuss these topics.
The results should be documented.
During the exchange
The participants are appointed with the task of finding out by means of observation to
what extent their preconceptions apply or have to be revised. A worksheet, developed
beforehand on the basis of the compiled subject areas, could facilitate this.
As a follow-up procedure
Upon completion of the exchange, the gathered results are compared with the documented
preconceptions and assessed regarding a possible revision. This can result in a list of
results that is revised by the coach and distributed to the participants in form of a handout
(as an example, see necessary materials below: intercultural specifics).
To be determined beforehand:
The exercise can be conducted separately for participants of all countries. Prior to the
follow-up work, the documented results can be exchanged between the different country
groups. This demonstrates what participants expect from their own group and to what
extent these expectations merely match existing stereotypes.
Starting point: At the beginning and upon completion of the exchange.
Timeframe: Approx.1 hour each
Group size: Optional
Group composition: Groups according to nationality
Set of Methods 165