Begin with an example of poverty/suffering.
Discuss:
For those who are new to a service site: What are some things you have already experienced?
For those familiar with a service site: What do you continue to experience? How can we gain from our volunteer “experience”?
“The term [conscientization] refers to learning to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions, and to take action against the oppressive elements of reality.” – Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
“Conscientization is where one achieves an in-depth understanding of the forces that shape one’s life space, and becomes an active agent in constructing a different…reality.” – Caffarella & Merriam, 1999
What you need:
We continue to identify ourselves with the poor in our way of living; we continue to simplify our lifestyle. We also become engaged in the struggle for social change. This usually leads to involvement in such things as protests, boycotts, demonstrations, actions of resistance, even civil disobedience, arrest, imprisonment. We often become a part of… a network of persons with similar ideals and goals. As a result of this involvement, we experience the fact that others—friends, relatives, family, members of our community—simply do not comprehend what we are about. We feel misunderstood, alienated, criticized, even persecuted. These experiences, in addition to our efforts to live more simply, become a part of our way of living.
Ted Wiesner
Reflect: As a result of your struggle for social change, when have you felt misunderstood, alienated, or criticized?
BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF. You are a child of the Universe no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive [God] to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Cassie Cromwell, ecological activist
Intention: To help participants engage in a form of dialogue that is beyond a verbal conversation. This activity is meant to help people share in an intentional bonding moment that may put them outside of their comfort zone.
Risk Level: Medium
Time needed: Decided by facilitator, anywhere from 5-15 minutes
Appropriate location: A space with low traffic and minimal distractions
Materials needed: Stopwatch/timepiece
Part I. Personal Reflection
Invite participants to think of a time in which they could not effectively communicate an idea or thought. Give them examples of possibly speaking through language barriers or talking to someone who is not listening. Help them think of a time in which their parents or siblings did not understand a choice they made or did not fully comprehend an experience that they wanted to share. Allow silence for reflection after giving examples.
Part II. Paired Activity
Have participants pair up with someone and invite them to stand or sit in front of each other. Have them “blink out” their eyes and shake hands with their partner. Invite them to lock eye contact with their partner until you say “time.” The facilitator has the choice of how long they want this activity to run.
Part III. Discussion
After you say “time,” have the partners discuss their experience with each other. What was the other thinking? What did you assume I was thinking about? What was your comfort level with this activity? How hard was it to keep eye contact with me? How do you feel right now? Next, invite the partners to come back to the big group and discuss as a whole.
Part IV. Close
Reiterate the point that communication goes beyond the verbal discussion. Challenge participants to look for that nonverbal communication in their everyday interactions.
Pro-Tips:
The facilitator should think about whether or not to share the activity time with participants. Telling participants or not telling them leads for interesting twists. There will probably be laughing/awkward giggles throughout the activity. I suggest letting the laughter happen. Although it may be distracting the concentration of other participants, it opens conversation about another form of dialogue and communication.
Opening: Close your eyes. Take a restful posture and a deep breath. Let go of any tension which you may be feeling. It is important that your mind be quiet, restful and peaceful… allow images and feelings to come freely…During this meditation we will look back on some important feelings and themes from the past days.
In this guided imagery, I am going to invite you to reflect on various themes, various memories. We will reflect on these individually now and communally later.
Challenge: Can you recall an experience when your heart went out to another person? A child rejected by his peers… a lonely old woman… a disabled beggar… a desperate addict… a scene of dehumanizing poverty? What did you feel at that moment? Does this scene continue to haunt you? Have you prayed about it? Has it remained in your memory?
Loneliness: When did you feel lonely? Did you miss your family? Was there a friend you longed for? Were there birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, or deaths which accentuated your distance from what you know as “home”? When did you feel alone?
Fear: What made you fearful? What kept you awake at night and occupied your mind during the day? A particular class or relationship… conflict in community… an issue in your family or at home… something that happened over the last four months—or may happen in the future? Did you share these fears with another person, your community, or with God?
Peace: When did you feel peace? Think of a time when you experienced consolation—a feeling that: “Yes, this is the right place for me to be right now. There is no other place I would rather be in the world.”
Anger: What made you angry? An absurd situation… an argument which escalated… a strained relationship… a rude stranger? Perhaps you perceived an injustice—was it an injustice to you or to another person? When were you angry? Do you tend to keep your anger interior, or do you express it? When did you lash out at an innocent bystander or talk viciously about another person? Were you aware of this violence?
Anxiousness: When did you feel stress? How did it manifest itself? Physical tension… restlessness… obsessing… preoccupations during prayer? Was this resolved or does it remain unresolved? When were you stressed? What could this anxiety teach you about yourself?
Joy: Remember a time when you felt joy? What were the circumstances? Did you feel gratitude? How frequently do you feel content to this degree? Most days… occasionally… rarely? When did you experience joy?
Sorrow: Was there an occasion when you felt sorrow? Perhaps you hurt someone or were hurt by someone… Perhaps someone you knew was treated cruelly? How did you respond to this sadness? By journaling… walking alone… thinking… praying? When were you sad?
Friendship: Is there a person here you can call your friend? How has the friendship developed? What qualities do you find about that person? Have you become a closer friend with God? With yourself?
Courage: Can you remember a time when you acted courageously? When you stood up for another person or an important value? Perhaps, there was a courageous position to take but you realized that it wasn’t your stand to make? Were you able to step back?
Humor: What memory of our time together has brought you a good laugh? Were you able to laugh at yourself? When were you laughing?
Adventure: What types of adventure attracted you and brought you to this place? As days became more routine, did you still find “newness,” or did you resign yourself to the tedium? Did you wait for the excursions and breaks to find adventure, or were you able to find excitement in your everyday experience?
Love: Have you experienced a deepening of love and appreciation for another person… for a group of people… for God… for yourself… or life itself? How have others shown their love for you?
Closing: Take a moment to sit with these memories… Now open your eyes… with your imagination fresh with a spirit of gratitude… Spend a half hour in quiet considering these questions. Feel free to journal. We will have the opportunity to share some of these experiences as a community later today.
Adapted from closing reflection with Casa de Solidaridad, 2003
Look to your left and right and note who is there. Silently answer the following questions for yourself: