Originally designed for service project leaders to use with their volunteers, this activity provides people the opportunity to practice facilitating a conversation and examine their own motivations for service. By the end of the session, groups can create a visual that encapsulates at least some of the reasons that bring participants to service.
Things to Think About
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For the Facilitator
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Setting the tone of the space and keeping participants engaged is a key element of this activity.
- How will you encourage participants to fully commit to the activity?
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For the Participant
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- The open-ended nature of reflection can make sifting through our thoughts a little difficult! What will you need to be able to explore your experience fully and authentically?
- How can you challenge yourself to have go beyond the surface in your thinking?
Instructions
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For the Facilitator
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Optional Opening
For an optional (15 minute) opening activity, prompt participants to record:
- Two ideas from the service project or experience that aligned with their previous experiences
- Two ideas from the service project or experience that have sparked continued thinking
- Two questions that they are leaving the service project or experience with
Activity
Invite participants to find their own space and spend approximately 10 minute jotting down responses to some of the following questions:
- What about service excites you as a way to spend your time?
- If someone were to ask you: “Why service? Why not do something that will help you with your career?”, what would you say?
- Why have you decided to volunteer in this specific issue area?
- When was the first time that you felt motivated to try service? What experiences triggered that in you?
- Does your family feel similarly about service?
- What do you hope community service at Princeton will be like?
Gather the group together again to share some bits and pieces of what they wrote, with about 15-20 min set aside.
For an added visual component, give each participant a notecard. Ask participants to write on one side of the card one line from their written reflection that they feel encapsulates their truth/what brings them to the space. On the other side, participants can record one word that sums up that truth. These cards can be collected and turned into a word banner for display.
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For the Participant
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- Push yourself to engage authentically and deeply.
- Listen actively as other members of your group share their experiences.
- How might you apply some of your reflections to your work outside of this space? Think about how engaging this way might apply to your future activities.
Measurement
To identify whether the activity was useful, you might think about:
- How participants respond to the activity: Are observations remaining surface level? Is the group trusting each other with their perspectives?
- Determine some feedback collective forms that make sense for you. Will you ask participants to rate their experience somehow? Ask follow up questions?
- Ask participants to give one word that encapsulates their feelings on the activity.