• What are your goals or learning outcomes for this activity? 
  • Examples of Desired Outcomes/Learning Goals: 
    • Provide individual participants with opportunities to reflect on their personal histories and how they would use the metaphor of a river to describe their lives.
    • Deepen interpersonal skills, including the ability to reflect, listen, articulate oneself, and develop relationships.
    • Build a feeling of collaboration and sharing among the participants as individuals and as members of different programs and communities.
    • Build trust within the group.
    • Increase the knowledge of experiences that inform different perspectives 
• How do you plan to frame the activity? 
  • Setting the tone and introducing the metaphor of a river is an important part of this activity. How do you plan to guide people to think about their story using the metaphor? 
• This activity requires participants to create a visual representation of a river on paper. Do you have access to the appropriate space and/or materials for completing this activity?
  • Preparation of materials and sharing examples can be effective ways of demonstrating for participants how they can develop their “river story.” How and when will you prepare and share with participants your own story? 
• How will you set group norms/ground rules?

If you are the person taking part in this activity, here are a few things to think about before you begin:

• Be sure to come to this activity with an open mindset
• Know that this activity is "challenge by choice" meaning it's up to you to make the most of this activity and you decide how far you want to take it.

Gather the necessary materials and secure the space needed for the River Story session.

• Suggested materials include: paper (legal size or large flip chart), markers, tape (for hanging up stories). 
• Suggested space needs include: Space with surfaces for people to draw and write (such as tables or desks) and adequate room for participants to spread out and work in their own space. 

Note that the ideal time for this activity is one hour. Depending on your group's size, additional time may be needed to effectively listen and share out. 

Introduction (10-15 minutes)

Begin by sharing quotes and engaging people in connecting with the metaphor of a river. (You can use videos of flowing water, relevant songs, or images of a river.)

• Provide a brief overview of what is to come. 
• Introduce that the river metaphor is about our stories.
• Set an appropriate tone of enjoyment, relaxation, and learning.

Example quotes:

"There are roads out of the secret places within us along which we all must move as we go to touch others." - Romare Bearden

"A river passes through many countries and each claims it for its own. But there is only one river." - A Sufi Master

Personal Rivers (30-40 minutes)

Explain the concept of a personal river story, using illustration and example on a screen or big piece of flip chart paper. Make sure to make your a poster of your River Story prior to the session. Consider integrating symbols, such as:

• Hand = service
• Heart = relationship
• Rock = Obstacles or turning points
• Tree = Ideas or important growth

Guide people to think about their story of involvement in social change and service and where that appears on the river. 

Each person should have paper and access to markers. Allow people to spread out and work quietly for about 10 minutes. 

Have people break into pairs or groups of three and hang up the River Stories. 

Closing (10-15 minutes)

Bring the group back together to wrap up. Some suggested closing questions for the group include: 

• What insights do you have about this group?
• What did you learn about yourself that surprised you? 
• Did you learn something about someone else that you didn’t expect to? 
• How did it feel to articulate to someone else your story? What effect did that have on you?

• Think about the framing for the activity. What is the first thing that comes to mind?
• Be an active listener as other members of your group share their experiences.
• Questions for you to consider:
  • How did it feel to articulate to someone else your story? What effect did that have on you? 
  • What insights do you have about this group?
  • What did you learn about yourself that surprised you? 
  • Did you learn something about someone else that you didn’t expect to?