Activity

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Number of participants

Up to 20 participants

Objectives

● To foster and build relationships through the sharing of personal stories and experiences.
● To promote active listening.
● To explore memories as a way to develop human bonds.

Where does the activity take place within the process

Middle

Duration

60 minutes

Material needed

Preparation

Prepare the room/space so that it is as spacious as it can be, without obstacles.

Step by step description

1. Ask participants to think of a childhood memory. It could be happy or sad, something that as a child caused great excitement or disappointment.

2. Working in pairs, ask participants to share their memories with each other.

3. After they have exchanged memories, ask each pair to create a still image inspired by one or more of the memories.

4. Invite each pair to show their image to the rest of the group.

5. Ask participants to suggest possible titles for each image.

6. Ask participants to find a new partner and repeat the above steps.

Closing up

Ask participants questions:

● What did you learn from this activity?
● Did any topics emerge from the memories that were shared?
● What do you think makes certain memories stand out for people?

Resources

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Comments / hints for facilitators

It is important to emphasise that they should only share memories that they are comfortable discussing with others. They should not share anything that is deeply personal, private or upsetting. The focus should be on viewing an event through the eyes of a child. For example, a child might be sad because they lost their favourite toy or excited when they got a new pet. The purpose of the exercise is to use memories as a starting point for human connection.