• Defining together the concept of POWER
• Making a distinction between the different types of power that exist and being able to recognize them in our daily life and in the group(s) we belong to.

Duration : 90 minutes

Provide to the participant an imaginary character, whose profile is described on a card. Ask them to keep it secret: they should neither show their character to the others, neither swap them.

Invite them then to get into their role. Leave them a few minutes to picture their character, using a set of questions:
- How old are you?
- Where do you live?
- What is/was your job?
- Do you have a degree? Which kind?
- What is your social status?
- How much do you earn per month/per year?
- What motivates you in life? What scares you?
- How do you behave when you are in a group: are you rather shy? talkative? self-confident?
- Do you take initiatives easily?
- Since when have you been involved in the group you belong to?
- Do people take into consideration what you say?

Ask the participants to line up next to each other in the middle of the room. Explain them that you will read up several statements, that are situations or events their character might encounter.
Whenever they are able to answer “yes” to the statement, they should take a step forward; Whenever they believe they should answer “no” to the statement, they should take a step back; In case they believe their character isn’t concerned at all, they should not move.

Read the several statements, with a little break between each of them. Ask the participants to act accordingly with their character (will they make a step forward or a step back?).

The finale position of each participant will reveal the extent of power that their character can exercise.

When you finished, leave a few minutes for the participants to get out of their character and to connect with their feelings.

Start the debriefing by asking them how they felt during the exercise:
- How did you connect with your character?
- Did some statements remember you some situations you experienced in the past?
- Regarding those who made many steps forward: When did you realize that others were not moving as you did? How did you felt?
- Regarding those who made many steps back: How did you felt when stepping back? Was your feeling stronger when you saw that some others were making a step forward when you were stepping back?
- Can you guess the profiles of others? (After a few tries, ask some volunteers to read their profile card).
- What kind of POWERS you believe were at stake in this activity?
- Can you identify yourselves to those characters?
- What can we learn from this exercise regarding POWER issues?

• Cards for each characters (2/character)
• Big space, can be outside as well.

The participants better understand the concept of POWER and its various dimensions and factors. They connect with their own experience and reflect on how they can make the most of their potential without taking the power over somebody else.

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Stefano (Male) 49 years old. Engineer. You have 2 kids, a girl and a boy. You raise them with your wife, who works too, in a local small-sized company. Already 6 years you are working in the organization. You embody the stability of the company, people expect from you to take the lead for the sake of the company.

David (Male) 40 years old. NGO coordinator. You have been in the organization since the beginning. You know the projects, the volunteers and some people in the municipality. You are a charismatic person, with strong values and ethics, and you are not afraid to talk with the local authorities. You have strong adaptation skills that make you feel comfortable in a wide range of situations and with any kind of group. You intend to defend the interest of the organization, by any mean….

Vitoria (Female) 25 years old. Civil Service Volunteer. You just finished the University of Psychology. You are full of ideas and very motivated. Your parents and siblings live in precarious situation in the countryside. You try your best to support them. You were looking for a job since you graduated but you didn’t find one in your field. You just joined an organization as a Civil Service one month ago, in a manly sector.

Tristan (Male) 21 years old. Unemployed, looking for a job. You are very curious but you don’t like being in a room all day. You didn’t manage to finish school but you don’t want to have a regular job. You would like to discover other ways to earning a leaving. You are currently volunteering in several organizations. Your parents don’t believe in what you do but they still support you.

Clara (Female) 30 years old. Part-time employee in a small-sized association. You just moved into the city your boyfriend is leaving, in a new country. You found there a job that is very much alike the one you had back home. You are very enthusiastic about it, even if you earn few. You have many ideas but you don’t know the history and the background of the new place you are working in.

Evora (Female) 50 years old. You are the single mother of have two children: one is finishing high school, the second just entered in a private School to become journalist. You work in a cooperative that you founded with 2 other colleagues 7 years ago. Your cooperative has been growing really fast those last 4 years and you are now the financial and administrative officer of it. You don’t really like this position and you would like to quit but the others are counting on you. On the other hand, you know that you need a job to support your children.

Tristan (Male) 23 years old. You are a student at the faculty of Political Sciences. You joined a student union 1 year ago. You are a calm person, with a good sense of observation. As a mediator, you seek consensus and try to calm down tensions. You’d rather help people express their ideas rather than share your own. You are now starting a new master degree, for which you will have to write a thesis by the end of the year. You know exactly what you want to research but your tutor would like you to change the subject.

Andreas (Transgender male) 31 years old. Unemployed since months, you are looking for a job, without results. You are a sharp mind and people around you trust you. You have a lot of friends. Christmas is in a month. All the family will gather in your grandfather house, in the countryside. Everybody knows about your sexual orientation and your new gender. You would like to go with your partner and dress as a man, but you know your family, and especially your grandfather, will not accept it…

Fatima (Female) 36 years old You are a teacher in a nearby public school. Your childhood in the suburbs was really difficult but you found your way to overcome the difficulties you went through. You are Muslim and you wear the veil. You joined the organization 2 years ago because you believed the neighborhood was boring and you wanted to take action for the community, and especially for the youngsters. You try your best in the organization and you often take responsibilities. Nevertheless, you often feel uncomfortable in the meetings or in front of an audience.

Jorge (Male) 69 years old. You crossed a border and arrived in the city you are currently living in when you were 18, looking job opportunities. You made your full career in the metal industry nearby the place you currently live in. You know how to make a lot of things with your hands; you’re kind of the “Do-It-Yourself local expert”. You know people, and people know you. As a retiree, you intend to act for the community. You would like to join the Municipality Council nut you still have a really strong foreign accent…

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1. People are listening to you when you speak. You believe they respect your speech.
2. When you have a new project in mind which requires some investment, you can afford it.
3. You believe in your ability to lead your life the way you intend to.
4. You have confidence in your ability to take action.
5. You believe your skills are recognized and respected by people around you.
6. You can express yourself in front of an audience with confidence.
7. You feel legitimate to take decisions for the organization by yourself.
8. You believe people will join you to take action if you ask them to.
9. You often give order or instructions.
10. You have influence over people.
11. You feel legitimate within the organization. You believe you can propose new ideas and projects.
12. You feel comfortable to speak with representatives of local authorities
13. You can rely on people around you in case of need.
14. You feel free to express your opinion in front of somebody else, even if this person has a higher status than yours.
15. You think your beliefs and personal choices are respected by people around you.
16. You can vote for both local and national elections.
17. You believe you can easily adapt to new situations.
18. You value the life you live and you’re optimistic regarding your future.
19. You know you will be able to satisfy your basic needs and the needs of your family.
20. You don’t feel discriminated.