Teaching Toleracne in Pirkanmaa

[Alejandro_Lorenzo]

The Red Cross is searching for volunteers to particpate in a Touring Tolerance Track

The dates for the "perfomances" are 9., 10.,14. ja 15.5.

There will also be a training session held on 7.5

More info from marjut.valta-taiponen@redcross.fi




The tolerance track is an interactive, diversity-promoting educational tool.

Finland is a fairly homogenous place, even with the influx on immigration in the 90's. Many Finnish youth have never even met a foreigner. The track provides an opportunity through simulation for these children to better understand the immigrants who are already here and those to follow.

The track consists of a series of stations at which the groups of students play interactive games which are lead by hosts. Ideally these hosts are of immigrant backgrounds.

Depending on how much time you have, you can have as many stations as you want. We have used the following:

• Fate Game - This simulates the flight of refugees. This is a mini-sociodrama. The students are told that there has been a coup and that they are all blacklisted. They have to choose - do they leave or stay?
• Attitude Adjusting - In this game the host asks the students to express their like or dislike of various kinds of people or ideas by moving away from a central point.
• Discrimination is a Drag - In this game the host chooses for reasons known only to them to favour only a few children in the group. In this game there may be tasks to complete such as throwing a basket ball into a waste basket for the child who is favoured. The other children would be asked to throw a marble into a bottle.
• Tongue Twisters - A group of foreigners (3 - 10) wear signs around their necks which read (in Finnish) "Guess what language I'm speaking and I'll give you a peace of candy." The children have to shake hands with the foreigner to get him to speak.
• Multicultural Trivia Quiz - is just what it sounds like. Also includes local trivia to bring the idea of diversity closer to home.
• Diversity Tree - In this game the host leads the group in imagining a beautiful autumn tree. The children are each given their own different shaped and coloured leaf on which they are asked to write something positive about themselves to attach to a ready made trunk on the wall in a public area of the school. Examples of the children's positive texts are, "I'm good at reading.", "I'm nice to everyone", "I'm a good swimmer." and so on.
• African Dance - A brief 20 minute session with a Tanzanian folk drummer and dancer.