Young people explore their thoughts
and feelings about their lives through
photography and reflect on how young
people from another country tackled
the same task.
 Setting
In Taunton, Somerset, working with
young people from a street-based youth
work project; in Peru, with a youth
group.
The project
Joan Taylor, a development education
worker and youth worker from Taunton
in Somerset, devised a simple exercise,
What Matters to Me?, to encourage
young people to reflect on and discuss
what is important in their own lives
and communities.
The
activity involved:
| • |
engaging
a group of young people in discussion |
| • |
giving
them disposable cameras and asking
them to take photographs of five
things that are important to them
and their way of life |
| • |
meeting
again, some weeks later, with
the photographs developed and
printed |
| • |
talking
about the images and exploring
the similarities and differences. |
 On
holiday in Peru, Joan took the opportunity
to run the same exercise with young
people from that country. On her return,
Joan and the youth work team used
these photographs to add another element
to the project. The youth group in
Taunton were shown the photographs
taken by young people from a different
cultural background on the other side
of the world. The group were surprised
and impressed with how beautiful the
scenery of Peru was.
The
photos generated discussion ranging
from 'He's good looking, do you think
he has a girlfriend?' to discussion
of pen-pals and exchange visits. One
member of the group expressed concern
about the possibility of hosting anyone
'because my Mum is a racist'. Discussion
was often focused on differences.
Further talk drew out similarities,
including the importance of family
and friends, pets, music, food, warmth,
home and somewhere to hang out.
In
summary
|
Key learning outcomes
For
young people
An opportunity for reflection
on their personal lives, their
place in the world and the links
that exist within local communities
and around the world.
For
agencies
The
work can happen in a variety
of settings, even through street-based
work with young people that
are often difficult to reach.
You do not have to be an expert
to introduce issues on sustainable
development.
|
The
project addresses the following Key
concepts
| • |
Quality
of life |
| • |
Interdependence |
| • |
Citizenship
|
The following Success
factors are shown
|
•
|
Individual
workers' initiative
|
| • |
Young
people's motivation |
Main
partners
GLADE development education centre
in Somerset; Somerset County Youth
Service.
Info
For more information contact GLADE,
Community Resources Centre, 9 Garrett
Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2JL, tel:
01935 433186, email: glade@gn.apc.org
website: www.glade.org
Case
study extracted and edited from 'Global
Youth Work' by Peter J White, published
by DEA.
|
