Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces for Discussing Contro Versial Issues
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Creating safe and inclusive spaces for discussing contro- versial issues online Experiences and tools from the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar 2020 Creating safe and inclusive spaces for discussing controversial issues online Table of Contents Background ................................................. 03 Facilitation of online trainings .................... 05 Creating a safe and inclusive atmosphere ... 06 Discussing controversial issues in online trainings ........................................... 08 Activity: What are controversial issues and how do they make us feel? .................... 10 Activity: Circle of trust ................................. 14 Activity: World café ...................................... 16 Evaluating and reviewing ............................ 18 References ................................................... 20 2 The European Wergeland Centre Creating safe and inclusive spaces for discussing controversial issues online Background How do we create meaningful and inclusive The dialogical approach to conflict resolution meeting places when we cannot meet? What is very much in line with what Utøya is today: are useful tools and methods for discussing A place for people to meet, learn, exchange controversial issues online? Is it possible to find a experiences, discuss, agree and disagree. Utøya common ground when we barely meet each other has a long history of youth participation and physically? These were some of the questions the international solidarity. It also holds a strong place participants at the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar in the Stoltenberg family. Therefore, EWC and Utøya 2020 explored together, and that form the basis invited youth leaders from different countries to the for this publication. Through this publication, The first Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar at Utøya in 2019. European Wergeland Centre share experiences and tools from the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar 2020, Under the covid-19 pandemic, challenges such as aiming to support young people in promoting polarisation, distrust in democratic institutions, diversity and intercultural understanding through violent protests, hate speech and hate crimes online trainings. against immigrants, refugees and minorities have intensified. At the same time, it has become more difficult to meet and to address these challenges. About the Thorvald Stoltenberg Thus, arranging the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar Seminar in 2020 was very important, despite not being able The Thorvald Stoltenberg seminar is an annual to gather people at Utøya. seminar for young people engaged in democracy and human rights, organized by the European Through a two-day online seminar, 25 young Wergeland Centre and Utøya. The seminar people involved in activities promoting diversity honours the legacy of the former Norwegian and equality met for an exchange of experience, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs discussion of challenges and opportunities during and diplomat Thorvald Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg, the covid-19 pandemic, and to get inspiration and who passed away in 2018, was a pioneer for practical tools for further work. The aim was to Norwegian peace diplomacy. He put great value support and promote ongoing initiatives in Europe in dialogue, often exemplified by his “kitchen to foster co-existence, trust, and dialogue among meetings”, where he would invite state leaders young people in diverse societies during the and foreign ministers to his home to enjoy a cup covid-19 pandemic. of coffee, relax and have a talk at his kitchen table. The European Wergeland Centre The European Wergeland Centre 3 Creating safe and inclusive spaces for discussing controversial issues online We hope this publication can support and inspire young people across Europe to continue promoting intercultural understanding, also when we cannot meet each other physically. About the organizers About this publication The European Wergeland Centre (EWC) is a This publication does not embody a full account of resource centre on education for democratic the program at the Thorvald Stoltenberg Seminar. citizenship, human rights and intercultural Rather, we share some general experiences and understanding. It was established by the Council good practices from hosting an online training and of Europe (CoE) and Norway in 2008, with a a few practical exercises from the seminar. mandate to support member states implement The pedagogical underpinning of this publication CoE policies in practice. EWC designs and offers is education for democratic citizenship/human trainings and educational programmes to edu- rights education, and the experimental learning cational professionals and civil society actors all cycle.1 Therefore, we use the word “trainings”, over Europe. EWC is a partner of Utøya and the which refers to activities or seminars where the 22. July Center on educational programmes on 22. aim is to learn together through experience. We July and education for democratic citizenship and also use the word “facilitation”, which refers to human rights. www.theewc.org preparing, presenting and co-ordinating activities. Nevertheless, the content of this publication is Utøya is an open and accessible arena for relevant for all types of participatory meetings commemoration, learning and engagement. It is and seminars online. the site of the terror attack on 22 July 2011. As part of the rebuilding of Utøya following 22 July The exercises in the publication build on the work 2011, the new memorial- and learning center, of the team of trainers at the Thorvald Stoltenberg Hegnhuset, was completed during the summer Seminar 2020: Joakim Arnøy, Coordinator Youth of 2016. The learning center at Utøya offers a Work, Narvik War and Peace Centre, Ingrid Aspe- unique opportunity for young people to reflect lund, Senior Adviser, The European Wergeland on what democracy means for them, what are the Centre, Ammal A. Haj, Vice President, Norwegian challenges and threats to democracy, and how they People’s Aid Solidarity Youth and Inga Marie as active citizens can promote democracy in their Nymo Riseth, Adviser, The European Wergeland everyday lives. Utøya is managed through Utøya Centre. AS. The EWC and Utøya have facilitated several workshops for young people at Utøya since the We hope this publication can support and inspire opening of Hegnhuset in 2016. www.utoya.no young people across Europe to continue promoting intercultural understanding, also when we cannot The seminar was financed by the Norwegian meet each other physically. National Commission for UNESCO. 1 Council of Europe (2015a) 4 The European Wergeland Centre Creating safe and inclusive spaces for discussing controversial issues online Facilitation of online trainings Good facilitation of online trainings builds on Creating a culture where everyone the same principles as facilitation in physical is seen and included trainings.2 Nevertheless, online facilitation means As a facilitator you strive to create a positive and considering some other aspects. In this section we healthy atmosphere, where diversity is respected present a few lessons learned from the Thorvald and the participants feel safe and willing to share Stoltenberg Seminar 2020. experiences, be honest and learn together. Man- aging this in an online training, is a little different than in when meeting physically. Keep in mind Online seminars need careful that a great amount of our communication is body planning and teamwork language, and in online trainings this disappears. Careful planning and good teamwork are of course In addition, there is no mingling and connecting important when organizing all types of events. with each other in the breaks. As a result, partici- However, organizing an online seminar for the first pants might feel a higher threshold to speak and time can be stressful, and a detailed plan and close might be more easily distracted, compared to when cooperation are keys to success. Have a detailed gathered physically. One way of meeting these run-through the program beforehand and clarify challenges is to write private, encouraging messages who is responsible for which tasks (who sends the to participants in the chat, when they contribute participants into Breakout-rooms, who is respon- to the conversation. Another suggestion is to join sible for answering questions in the chat, who will some of the group discussions, which allows you assist participants struggling with technicalities to interact closer than in the plenary discussions. and so on). This takes time but is worth it. Striking the balance: not too short, nor too long We recommend 3-4 trainers/organizers for longer Time management in online trainings can be trainings. This way you also have the flexibility to challenging. Because it is generally harder to con- support each other in case of technical issues or centrate for longer stretches of time in front of the unexpected problems. You should also agree on screen, online trainings are usually shorter than a channel for communication within the trainer when we meet physically. Consequently, you might team, so you can easily communicate during the not have room in the program to do everything you program. would like. You do not want to stretch the duration unto a point where participants are tired or bored. If you are using a specific platform or some tools Rather, consider means of interaction that are for the first time, make sure to test them properly refreshing and that saves time in the program. For before the training. On Youtube, you will find