Who Can Change Things...

Participants reflect, how the main sectors within the society interact. The method gives an idea, to what extent the impact of a social initiative may depend from cooperation across sectoral borders.

In short

• Time: approximately 60 minutes
• Material: usual moderation material

Preparation

Facilitators mark out four circles on the floor with adhesive tape representing the societal sectors

• Individual (large circle in the middle),
• Politics,
• Companies,
• Civil Society

Introduction

At the beginning all participants stand in the large circle labelled “Individual”.

The facilitators explain that the activity begins with the individual: we live together in a society in which we can assume different roles which we can shape together.

• as private individuals (employees, consumers, voters...),
• as businesspeople,
• politicians,
• or activists

Action within a sector

In small groups, the participants now discuss the first question displayed on the wall. They receive moderation cards on which to write their answers in summarized form:

• What options are available to you and other people in this field of action if you want to change something?

The question may encompass the following aspects:

• What approach is taken by the actors in question?
• What can people do on a small or a large scale in their specific field(s)?
• If the question appears to be too abstract, participants may collect concrete examples

[10 minutes]

Action across sectoral borders

The participants then discuss the second question. Facilitators distribute paper sheets in the form of arrows. The findings are written on the paper arrows as keywords:

• From your field of action, how can you influence the other actors?

[15 minutes]

Presentation

All groups present first the possibilities for actions which they wrote on their moderation cards.

In a second round they present their influence arrows.

Reflection

• Are any actors missing?
• How great do you consider the potential for change of each of the various actors to be?
• What are the crucial requirements for change?
• Where do you see opportunities to form effective alliances between actors?
• Who holds the power to make decisions in the different areas?
• Where do you see opportunities to form effective alliances between actors?
• What such alliances are you currently aware of?

Source

• http://balkansletsgetup.org

During:

Techniques

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• Project Development
  • Collaboration Canvas
  • Who Can Change Things?
  • Change Your World with 50 Euro
  • Project Inspiration
  • Logic of the project
  • Silent Journey
  • Ideas that match
  • Checklist: Project Concept
  • A Shared Ideaspace
  • Checklist: Project Concept
  • Concept Map

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Theory:

• Empowerment

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New Handbook

H. Fahrun, E. Skowron,
N. Zimmermann

Initiative Cookbook
Homemade Engagement. An Introduction to Project Management.

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