To enable young people to become aware of inequalities in access to fundamental rights, both between countries and within the same country;

• To work on representations and deconstruct stereotypes;
• To help people understand what belonging to certain social or ethnic minorities can sometimes mean for a person and the consequences this can have;
• Experience empathy.

“Step Forward” is a simple activity suitable for all ages that addresses issues of representation. It allows participants to visualize a somewhat abstract reality and become aware of inequalities. By encouraging players to put themselves in the shoes of a character, it aims to spark discussion around a chosen theme and deconstruct stereotypes and prejudices that may be widespread among participants.

If the group has fewer than 20 people, choose characters with as much variety in their profiles as possible. For the activity to work, participants must use their imagination. Depending on the young people and the Profile cards they receive, there may be strong reactions when they read them. If necessary, emphasize to the young people that this is only a role-playing game.

1) Participants are randomly assigned a Profile card, which represents the profile of a person. Ask them to keep it and not show it to others or exchange it.

2) Invite them to read their Profile card and put themselves in that character's shoes for the duration of the game. Give them a few minutes to imagine their story, their past, their desires, and their difficulties. You can help them by reading the following questions: What was your childhood like? What was your home like? What did your parents do for a living? What is your life like today? What do you do with your days? Where do you live? How much do you earn? What do you do for fun? What motivates you and what scares you?

3) Once the participants have familiarized themselves with their profiles, ask them to line up at the end of the room or at the bottom of the stairs. Explain that you are going to read them a list of situations or events. Each time they can answer “yes” to the statement, they should take a step forward. If not, they should stay where they are. 4) Read the situations one by one. Pause between each one so that participants can move forward if necessary. Observe their position in relation to the others. Ask them to remember the statements for which they were unable to move forward.

5) Debriefing: in plenary, but ask everyone to note down their final position. Give them 2 minutes to step out of their character's shoes (but without revealing their character to the others). Start by asking them how they feel after the activity, then continue by addressing the issues raised and what they have learned:

• How did you feel? What was difficult about this exercise?
• How did I feel when others were moving forward and I wasn't? And vice versa?
• How did I feel in my character's shoes?
• For those who moved forward often, when did they notice that others were not moving as fast as them?
• Did some people feel that their fundamental rights were not being respected? At what points?

Which profile could be in first place or last? ask them to reveal their profiles, from the first to the last.

Next, we can spend some time on each person's profile: can they guess the role played by the others? Some people can read their Profile card and briefly describe the character as they imagined them.

6. Depending on the time remaining, the debriefing can be extended. * What struck me the most? * What rights are at stake in this activity? * Did I imagine that such large differences could exist? * What is our position in relation to the majority of the world's population? * Where would I be if I were playing my own role? * Do you think the answers differ depending on your country?

• You are not afraid of being harassed or attacked in the streets or by the media.
• You have never been discriminated against because of your origin.
• You feel that your language, religion, and culture are respected in the society in which you live.
• You have never been discriminated against because of your gender.
• You have never experienced discrimination because of your sexuality.
• You feel that your skills are appreciated and respected.
• You have never had serious financial difficulties.
• You can celebrate the most important holidays (religious and/or cultural) with your parents and loved ones.
• You have decent housing with electricity and drinking water.
• You went to school and can read the newspaper.
• You can use the internet and enjoy its benefits.
• You can vote in local and national elections.
• You have social and medical protection.
• You can participate in an international seminar abroad.
• You find your life interesting and are optimistic about your future.
• You have never worried about not having enough to eat.
• You believe you can study and pursue the career of your choice.
• You can buy new clothes at least every three months.
• You are not worried about your children's future.
• You can go on vacation once a year.

• A young boy living in a disadvantaged neighborhood
• An HIV-positive sex worker
• A model of Congolese origin
• A young person with a disability who can only get around in a wheelchair
• A retired factory worker from a shoe manufacturing factory
• The 19-year-old son of a farmer in a remote mountain village
• A 37-year-old lesbian woman
• You run a successful import-export company
• The daughter of a local bank manager
• A 26-year-old transgender person
• An unemployed teacher in a country where you do not speak the official language
• A single mother of three children
• A young practicing Muslim woman who lives with her family
• You have just been released from prison
• The daughter of a US ambassador in the country where you now live
• A 24-year-old Syrian refugee
• A young homeless man
• A person with bipolar disorder
• A 23-year-old German backpacker
• The son of a Chinese immigrant who runs a successful fast food business

profile_cards_one_step_forward-1.pdf