ECCAY RESOURCES
Exercise nr. 17
The Lemon
|
Minimum number of participants |
Average time length | Individual setting |
Group setting | Special Equipment | Unit | Online | Challenges/ competition |
| 4 and more | 30mns | no | yes | yes | 1,3,4,6 | yes | no |
In this exercise, starting from a simple element, we are led to analyse and value the place of each person in the construction of a group. In the spirit of the solution-focused approach, this allows each person to contribute to its construction by respecting the person for what he( or she) is and not what he( or she) represents. Thus it is important to make the difference between the feeling and the reality, not to put each one in a box and to go towards an open-mindedness which allows a positive elaboration of the collective. In this exercise we start from the imaginary towards the real to build and federate around a small element which is today a lemon.
Aim / Benefits
This allows people to be understood for what they are and not what they represent through this collective exercise.
Its simplicity should not put individuals in difficulty and should reinforce cohesion around common values and is therefore perfectly suited to young people at risk of exclusion.
This exercise brings a dynamic within the group, a spirit of openness and develops the ability to work together by mobilising the potential of each person.
It is a step in the activation of the ecosystem that will allow to work together, to identify partners to establish a network.
UNIT(s) related
Why
This exercise relates to UNIT 1 as it allows for positive mobilisation in the mindset of the solution- focused approach
It can be linked to UNIT 3 as it can show mutual influence and also develop cooperative systems. The link with UNIT 4 is the work done in the co-construction of a group with each of the participants The link with UNIT 6 as it leads the participants to reflect on how to mobilise their ecosystem.
How to do the exercise
The facilitator explains that everyone is here to build a collective from the feelings of each person and from reality, and therefore to work from what they can do together.
Everyone will be able to express themselves without judgement on the part of the others, everyone will be respected.
He explains that he is here to collect their comments.
Step 2
The facilitator draws a line lengthwise on the flip chart or board.
He asks what a lemon evokes or represents in their imagination, what words go with it.
In the left-hand column, he writes down the expressions used by each person, for example: yellow, a lemon tart, sunshine, acidity, the heat of the south, juice, etc. .....
After noting down all the answers, the facilitator moves on to the next stage
Step 3:
The facilitator gives each person a lemon.
He asks each person to say the words that come to them now that they have the lemon in their hands;
He notes in the right-hand column expressions such as: the smell, the yellow, the desire for a dessert, the juice, the rounded shape…
Final step / Conclusion:
The facilitator, together with the participants, locates the words and common points in each of the columns and circles them.
The facilitator and the participants compare what could be imagined, what could be prejudices, with the findings when they have the lemon in hand.
Debrief
In this way, each person is given the opportunity to contribute and to be considered for what he or she is and not for what he or she represents.
It will be interesting if everyone can express the evolution of relations within the group between the beginning and the end of the exercise.
Generally, the participants notice that the atmosphere is more relaxed, and are pleasantly surprised that this exercise has allowed these exchanges and triggered the desire to build together.
Specific materials
-For this example, one lemon per participant, which will then be offered to each participant. If the exercise is online only one lemon will be presented by the facilitator on the screen.
The lemon can be replaced by another fruit or vegetable or any other object.
Tips and Tricks
Cela déclenche souvent des échanges sérieux ou humoristiques tout depend de l’ambiance.
Cela amène à communiquer , aussi à faire évoluer les relations au sein du groupe.
L’étape importante est d’avoir imaginé sans voir l’objet et ensuite à partir du visuel de faire le constat de ce que l’on resent lorsqu’on voit l’objet.
On-line version
Le constat est fait par les professionnels que durant la pandémie malgré leur mobilisation un certain nombre de ces jeunes ont perdu le contact.
L’exercice en ligne est aussi réalisable.
Print
eccay-curriculum-en.pdf