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.

Activity4: Icebreaker - Self Portraits

Objective:

• To create a relaxed atmosphere and allow each participant to introduce aspects of themselves
• To break the ice for a group that know each other well already

Materials: One sheet of paper and one pen per participant

Duration: 10 minutes of portrait drawing, plus 10 minutes for roving exhibition

Procedure:

• Ask participants to draw self-portrait on a piece of paper. They can choose whatever styles they like- artistic, cartoon, abstract. Ask them to write their names on the portrait
• Collect the portraits and display them on boards or on the wall
• Give participants the opportunity to view the exhibition (‘roving exhibition’)

Comments: This exercise usually causes much amusement. It is a good leveler and icebreaker. It is good for learning new names and remembering old ones, as participants come to associate something visual with the name. If those in the group already know each other, one variation is to tell participants not to write their names on the portraits. During the exhibition participants then guess the person behind each portrait.

To Learn More: Refer to’ Participatory Learning and Action, A Trainer’s Guide’ by Pretty Guijt, Thompson and Scoones, 1995, London.