Icebreakers: These activities can be carried out at the beginning of any session in the project for introductions and for bringing about an informal environment.

Activity: Icebreaker - Paired Interviewing

Objective:

• To learn a little about participant personalities
• To help participants relax at the beginning of a course

Materials: Paper, pens

Duration: 20-45 minutes depending on the number of participants

Procedure:

1. Split participants and the facilitators (including you) into pairs. Ask each person to interview their partner by focusing on questions such as:

• What is your name?
• What is your favorite food?
• What is your favorite place in your neighborhood?
• How long have you lived in that neighborhood?
• What do you like to play the most?

2. After 5 minutes, participants and facilitators then report to everyone about their partner in a few sentences.

Comments: The key to the exercise is that participants do not report on themselves- in this way they do not become nervous while waiting for their turn. In addition, the exercise is neutral to seniority: neighboring participants interview each other – a younger participant could be interviewing a much older facilitator and vice versa.

To learn more: Refer to’ Participatory Learning and Action, A Trainer’s Guide’ by Pretty Guijt, Thompson and Scoone, 1995, London.