STATEMENT TASK: AGREE / DISAGREE

Find out more about the participants’ viewpoints while examining the issues of cooperation.

TIME REQUIRED

30–45 minutes

RESOURCES

Projector or a board with large sheets of papers. On each of the large paper sheets write down a statement. Markers

ACTION

1. Start with a short introduction on youth participation, the importance of cooperation between the different participants and with the difficulties associated with participation in everyday life.
2. Explain that now you will read out loud a sequence of statements, which participants encounter to a larger or lesser extend in their lives.
3. Explain that they can take only extreme positions – Agree or Disagree. Ask the participants to stand on either side of the line.
4. Read the statements one by one. After each statement give participants some time to decide their position.
5. Ask several participants to explain why have they chosen this position and what is their viewpoint on the statement. Explain to participants that during the discussion they can change their position. Keep an eye on the time in order to involve all the participants in the discussion.
6. After few minutes read the next statement.
7. Once all statements are read, reflect involving all participants.

 Suggested statements

• Cooperation with other institutions harms your main activities;
• Lack of knowledge harms cooperation;
• Local authorities support youth participation only when authorities can politically benefit from it;
• All young people have the right to participate in decision-making processes;
• Authorities should be responsible for the participation of youth, providing financial support to active youth they like.

The arguments can be chosen according to the objectives and the context.

DISCUSSION

Ask the participants to answer the following questions:

• How did you feel during this task?
• When was it difficult to choose your position? Why?
• What were your arguments?
• Can you compare the way people behaved and what they said during this task, with some of their actual activities in real life?
• Do you think these statements are verified/ backed up by facts?
• Was this task helpful? Why?

COMMENTS

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES