Heiner Benking
OPEN-FORUM, Berlin, Germany
We have
been playing during the last 10 years a
"time-credit" dialog game -
not just with young kids, but also in intergenerational and cross-
cultural dialog. Kids appreciated it immediately and it is a game with rules,
so nobody can manipulate or be unfair.
The game
is about empowering and giving voice (speaking time in form of tokens). After
offers or proposals in an initial round players give speaking time to the
person they want to listen to. Important is the communication of encouragement,
which makes visible (embodies) the interest. Time can float, as when one person
feels that it wants to hear more from someone, maybe accompanied by a question,
the time credit can continue its journey. Until it is used up by speaking that
time.
An
example: with 10 players sitting in a circle, each gets as a depot, encouraged
to give to others) 6 beads or straws. One person assumes the position of
moderator, just making sure that after the round of "offers" only
players can contribute, maybe sing or dance until "their" time is
used up.
Some Outcomes:
Participants
who are shy brighten up when they feel someone wants to listen, all learn to
get a feeling for time they use up and how much can be said in a given number
of minutes, that no a single person is able to dominate the group, and that
there is a clear visible and a chance for another round with "magic"
un-planned results.
The method is not only played with kids in various places since years, but at
international events, in inter-generational-, cross-cultural-, inter-disciplinary
environments, or DIALOG OF CULTURES events.
We have
collected some reports of events under the title "RE-INVENTING
DEMOCRACY" which should better start trying the earlier the better as it
has to do with a personal process of listening, appreciation, checking the
expectations and assumptions of others and learning to consider and include
other viewpoints.
pls.
check: http://open-forum.de/re-invent-democracy.html
see: