Prep work
- Prepare by putting together a list of potential intrinsic (and extrinsic) values.
- Develop a general understanding of values.
Steps in the activity
- Clarifying one’s own values
- Exploring other’s values and culture
Step 1: Clarifying one’s own values
- Invite the learners to think of a person they respect and admire deeply, but have never met. What are the inner qualities or values that the learners admire most in that person? Note that it is not about what the person did (e.g. activities or professional skills). While learners are free to think of any person they want, you can encourage them to find a nonviolent person who has not inflicted harm on others, if needed.
- Feel free to give an example that would be appealing to learners of the age group you are working with. An example could be Yoda (Star Wars), who displays presence, compassion, courage, self-awareness, openness, oneness, perseverance (“Do or do not. There is no try”; “Name must be your fear before banishing it you can”; “You must unlearn what you have learnt; The greatest teacher, failure is”).
- Ask the learners to write on a paper: ”The qualities/ inner values I admire in (write name of the person you have selected) are ….”.
- After 10 min of individual time/ work, collect the qualities/ inner values they have written down on a board (without asking them about the person they had selected).
Step 2: Exploring others’ values and culture
- Based on step 1, discuss the mentioned values and the existing patterns. What do the listed values say about our shared humanity? And how do they relate to sustainability, climate resilience and regeneration?
- After the identification of the existing patterns, bring the discussion to our current culture, organisations, systems and structures. How are those values reflected, or not, in our every-day life? Why? And what does this mean for sustainability, climate resilience and/or regeneration?
Dos and Don’ts
Adaptations
We invite you to adapt this activity to the specific needs of your learners, including by taking into account their neurodiversity. When adapting tools and activities for neurodivergent learners, please note it is not about treating others how you want to be treated, but how they want to be treated. Ask, listen, and stay open to different ways of learning and engaging.
References
- Link to sustainability: UNSDG | 2030 Agenda – Universal Values
- Link to related research and more advanced exercises: Integrity_and_Ethics_Module_2_Ethics_and_Universal_Values.pdf (unodc.org)
