Abigail
Method to exercise negotiation skills, social values and prioritizing ability.
Target group
- Teenagers (cca. 13 – 18 years)
- Young adults (cca. 17 – 26 years)
- NEETs
- Youth with fewer opportunities
- Youth workers
- Teachers
Content
The organizer of the activity will narrate a story about Abigail:
Abigail was a young and very beautiful woman who lived on the southern bank of the river. She was deeply in love with George who lived on the northern river bank.
One day Abigail received the letter bringing her news about George falling ill. Abigail did not hesitate a minute and decide to visit George.
To visit George she must cross the river which is very wild and dangerous. Therefore she asks George’s and her common friend, ferryman Henrik to take her to other river bank. He refused.
Abigail thinks of another solution and she remember the sailor Sindibad lives on the same shore and he also owns a boat.
She asks him for help and after some thinking he agrees to help her only if she would have sex with him. She agrees.
When Abigail is transported on other shore she runs to George. He is happy his love visited him but Abigail is sad. When George asks, Abigail tells him about the Sindibad. George is furious and throws her out of his house forbidding her to ever return. Crying Abigail is wandering around the river when she meets ugly Hunchback. He tries to comfort her and asks about her story. When he hear her story about Hans, Sindibad and George’s reaction he decided to visit George and while he was angry he gave him some educational scolding.
The method can be used also for other content.
Materials
Papers, pencils (flipchart might be useful, not necessary)Specific Environment
Any environment large enough to form groupsSpecific goals
Raising the level of skills that are useful/helpful for youth to their social involvement/participation ( such as self-confidence, leadership, …); Advise young people how to identify, diagnose or just name challenges and problems of their social environment; Advise young people how to put their entrepreneurial ideas into social practice (e.g. presentation of project methodology, strategical planning, etc.)Description
The whole group listens to the story.
Every single member of the group must compose his/her personal list of persons who they like most to who they like least. Each place can be taken only by one person mentioned in the story.
Two (or more) groups are formed. Within the group the same list must be composed and everyone must agree on the person place in the list.
Each group chooses its representative to present their list. Groups enter into negotiation to create the final list. Each group is represented only by the chosen representative. Other group members can only advice their group representative, but cannot negotiate with other groups or other representatives.
Outcomes and its measurability
Final order of the story characters can be compared to the personal lists of each group member.
Discussion with the members about the negotiation experience will follow, together with the logical reasoning used.