Vevela le Fala
In Samoa, mats (fala) are an important part of culture. The concept of Vevela le Fala (literally “hot mat”) is to give space for people to speak honest truths about the group. It can be used as a conflict resolution tool or a chance to do deep reflection.
“Who Else?” (Stand Up/Sit Down)
This is an easy way to welcome the different people in the room, for us to be in touch with their mood, and to help make different connections. We like this activity because it can be done in a group of five or a group of one-hundred (it can also be done in any seating arrangement – a circle, large auditorium, etc.).
Team Types
Four personality tendencies in team-building
Getting a Group Open to New Ideas: Expanding Comfort Zones
Activist groups often develop some actions they use again and again. Sometimes that’s sufficient. Groups can develop internal rituals or find that tactics continue to be effective. But oftentimes groups can get so used to do things that do them even when they’re not effective. So if you know a group who keeps picking the same ineffective tactics, or same boring meetings, this tool can help.
Increase Your Volunteers’ Involvement: Using the Ladder of Engagement
Building a movement isn’t just about carrying out an action. Movement-building is about growing relationships, and growing people’s sense of power. For that, we offer ways to get people more deeply involved. The concept of the ladder of engagement can make sure we are inviting people to make a deeper commitment.
What is Strategy: Blanket Tool
This is a physical way of learning about strategy and campaigning that is easy, simple, and effective.
Diversity Welcome
Inclusion is the intention of the diversity welcome. It can be long or short. The more things present that can be named, the more likely the participants are to feel welcome. It is a ritual, so the repetitive phrasing can help: “Welcome… welcome…” Take your time with it!
Games/Energizers/Dynamicas
Here are a few energizers you can use with groups: Yes Let’s (or Let’s All) The trainer explains that creativity...
High-Moment Team Reflection: Growing our Individual and Team’s Strengths
350 staffer Sarah from Egypt has been using a method called appreciative inquiry. That approach centers around the belief that groups make their best progress when they they focus on the skills they do well. When a group says they aren’t good at communication, for example, this approach asks of the group: “Okay, but when you’re the best at communication—what does that look like?” The idea is that seeing what you’re lacking doesn’t help you know what to do more of. Instead focus on what resources you have and how to expand and grow those.
Where Your Name Comes From
The simplest tool for cultural difference you'll ever use! It's almost too simple to be its own tool, but it works. The exercise: do a go-around where each person shares their full name and where it comes from.
How to Create a Campaign Plan: the Paper Plate Challenge
Campaigns aren’t won all at once; instead, they are won through a series of actions. Yet, too often, we design only one action ahead of time. That can be a problem – when that action is over, people want to know what comes next. Right after the action they are energized and ready to do the next thing, and we lose that energy if we don’t have the next step. This tool is about helping us plan ahead and keep momentum. It’s a great tool to use after people have been thinking about possible tactics, or near the end of a campaign workshop to finalise a plan.
Parallel Lines Roleplay
The shortest way to do a roleplay with a group in a complex challenge
Review of Activities Timeline
The goal of this activity is straightforward: getting people to create a timeline of what they have been up to in the last, say, six months. We encourage reflection in small groups so that you get a wide range of input and more chances for participation. Plus, small groups are another way of getting participants to work with each other, especially if you encourage people to get into groups with people they don’t as well or don’t work with as often.
Village Exercise
This interactive, physical activity gives participants an experience of nonviolent action and can unite groups through shared experiences. It’s a great group challenge, fun, and always provides a lot to reflect on about strategy, direct action, and social change.
Go-Round
This is a very simple tool. It’s often used for introductions or in decision-making to hear opinions from each person. Each person is asked to share a response to some question.
How to Lead a Closed-Eye Process
We start with the assumption that it is both validating and empowering to learn from our own experience. This process allows people some time for inner reflection (with their “eyes-closed” if they so desire) to help people vividly remember a positive experience and use it. Then people get to share that story—which reinforces the learning—and finally get to put it in a larger framework.
Kinds of Lists
Elicitive Tools for Facilitation
The Mingle
The mingle (also called milling) allows lots of interactions to happen between participants at the same time. Participants get a chance to talk to each other in one-on-one encounters and to carry out a task. It’s very effective and highly flexible activity!
Sentence Completions
This highly flexible tool can be done in pairs. It’s great if you’re trying to bring people to a deeper inner awareness, or encourage creativity or flexible thinking, or just get people into an open, curious place about a topic area.
Skits
In some cultures skits are popular for creating amusement –– a short, informal dramatic presentation usually making fun of someone or something. In workshops we use skits intentionally to serve other purposes as well.
Sociograms and Spectrums
In a sociogram, participants place their bodies in positions that represent something about themselves. It’s a way to help people think more deeply about what they think—and share opinions within a group.