Personal Growth Module

Welcome to your second session of Personal Growth module, online version
It will take two hours.

Objectives: 1. to develop  ability to listen to others in an open-minded and empathetic way,

2. to develop ability to express oneself,  one’s emotions and opinions in a clear and non-confrontational way.

Learning outcomes:

After this session, Mothers will become more open to others, understanding others and able to accept differences in opinions, attitudes and behavior.  They will also be more confident in expressing themselves.

Note to the Trainer: 

Public dialogue is based on the methodology of the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, Norway, which was developed in order to build bridges across ethnic, cultural, political and social divides.  (eg. used in the Balkans after the 1990s war conflicts),

Scenario:

1.   The facilitator presents principles of a public dialogue in the following way:

Principles 1.1-1.5 on the the screen, in an enlarged size each, one after another: 

1. it is not a debate so we are not going to persuade each other that we are right and they are not,  

2. It is a conversation based on mutual respect and openness, which allows us to learn about each other.  

3. Listening to each other is essential, we focus on what others talk about and we listen to them in an open-minded, empathetic way.  

4.  Everything said during a public dialogue is  confidential.

5. Participants listen to and talk to each other, focused on understanding and accepting their opinion.

Principle 1.6 could be presented as a spoken comment of the Trainer/Facilitator:

6. During a public dialogue, the Facilitator presents a question to talk about and, if necessary in the course of a conversation, asks additional/specifying  questions.  He/she does not participate in the conversation in any other way.

Principle 1.7 serves as a tip to the trainer/facilitator and it is recommended that the participants  shouldn’t know it before their dialogue:

7. At the end, the facilitator provides a summary of what has been said, by referring to the points raised in a direct way, e.g. ‘Paula said that we can be successful professionally and have a happy family.’  ‘Joanna pointed out that is possible but only if we have support from our partner and/or others around.’  The facilitator gives no opinion nor interpretation.

After this introductory presentation of rules, a dialogue starts:

2. The question „Is it possible to have both a successful professional career and a happy family?’  appears on the screen. The question must be visible to everybody during the dialogue.

3.  The facilitator reads the question aloud and the Participants start talking.

4. At the end, the facilitator provides a summary of what has been said, by referring to the points raised in a direct way, e.g. ‘Paula said that we can be successful professionally and have a happy family.’  ‘Joanna pointed out that is possible but only if we have support from our partner and/or others around.’  The facilitator gives no opinion nor interpretation.

Bear in mind: No direction from the facilitator, apart from additional questions.  The facilitator cannot react  even if the conversation goes off the initial topic.  Let the participants talk freely.