Theatre-pedagogical and creative exercises to give young people in a globalized world orientation in their search for identity and to sensitize them for diversity, basic rights and democracy
2012
within the project “ARTiculating Values: Youngsters act in EuroMed” in cooperation with BAOBAB
The project “ARTiculating Values”, in the context of which this handbook was created, is one of those international projects that enable all participants to meet on an equal footing and make it clear that we can all learn from each other: Teachers from students, “natives” from “immigrants”, … and vice versa. This process is of course all the more exciting, the greater the range of different experiences and perspectives of the participants. The horizon is broadened and one’s own point of view as well as the idea of what is good and right is relativized.
In the face of globalization, worldwide interdependencies and changes, individual knowledge, social behavior and personal actions can rely less and less on “proven traditions”. Consequently, it is essential to offer young people an orientation for the lifelong process of finding a human identity and to encourage them to see global connections and perceive diversity as enrichment. Educational work can make an important contribution to this by enabling young people to gain their own experience in encounters with “the others” and encouraging them to develop forms of action that enable them to exercise their fundamental rights and to play an active role in shaping democratic pluralistic societies.
Rebekka Zeilinger
by the Austrian Development Agency, the former Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture (bm:ukk) and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA)
In the sense of holistic learning, the own discovery, the networking with all senses and a self-determined, sustainable and joyful learning with “heart, head and feet” in a benevolent atmosphere are important. Theater pedagogical and other creative methods have this potential. They constructively involve the emotional level and make it possible to develop trust and strengthen the team spirit even in heterogeneous and difficult group constellations. The “Theatre of the Oppressed” developed by Augusto Boal made it possible to experience new situations on one’s own body, to “walk in the shoes of others” or to play through different conflict situations and try out one’s own solution strategies.
This process is of course all the more exciting, the greater the range of different experiences and perspectives of those involved. The horizon is broadened and one’s own point of view as well as the idea of what is good and right are put into perspective.
Rebekka Zeilinger
This method manual is intended for multipliers in the school and out-of-school sector. It presents activities that encourage a creative and critical examination of the topics “values”, “conflicts”, “exclusion” or “peace”. Playfully, a preoccupation with self-perception and the perception of others takes place. Active listening is trained, empathy and self-esteem of the participants are strengthened. In this way, prejudices can be broken down, diversity is viewed positively and respectful and appreciative interaction with one another is encouraged. The handbook is accompanied by a project film, which documents the course of the international training from the first meeting to the joint performance and provides insights into the work of the drama teachers. Individual modules with excerpts from the workshops illustrate the described theater pedagogical methods, which are commented on by experts and project participants and tested for their suitability for everyday life.
The publication is available for download free of charge and released for non-commercial use. For commercial use please contact office@iz.or.at.