Faith Groups

Age:

• 12-18

Philanthropy is:

• Giving, serving and private citizen action intended for the common good.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• examine personal biases and stereotyping, and how they originate.
• become aware that prejudice can be very hurtful even though unintentional.
• understand how to change biased thinking and build harmonious relationships.
• understand that learning open and honest communication is a step in human growth and development, which can lead to a better society.
• understand the relationship between participating in effective philanthropic acts for the common good and creating harmony.
  

Religious Activity Theme:

Talmud Ta’anit 20b
“When Rav Huna would eat a meal he would open his door and say, whoever is in need, let that person come and eat.”

Acts 10:34-35 (New International Version)
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

Through this activity participants will become aware of their own feelings about others, and the racial, cultural and socio-economic biases in society today. Participants will analyze their own feelings in light of this awareness.

Activity Steps:

• Upon entering the activity room the participants will see pictures of people of diverse cultures, including pictures of people they may encounter in their daily lives. Ask the youth to identify the pictures of people who they think may be different from them, and to explain why.
• Make sure to create a safe environment for an open and honest discussion where personal feelings can be shared. Having the group identify a set of their own “group norms” prior to the activity can create a safer environment. Their norms may be things such as: active listening, not judging others, establishing trust, making sure everyone participates on some level, pledging confidentiality, and promoting care and understanding. Congratulate them often on their willingness to be open and supportive of all their peers on this sensitive topic. The participants should be recognized for their willingness to be open-minded.
• Discuss with the participants if they have any ideas as to what the particular people they see depicted in the pictures might be like.
• Next, utilize the Stereo What? Personal Opinion Survey (Attachment One—view by scrolling down) and ask the group to silently check off the responses that are the closest to their honest feelings. Point out that they may keep their papers confidential. Write the word "stereotype" on the chart paper or overhead projector transparency and ask participants to give their ideas of what the term means. Record their responses.
• Conduct a group discussion of their opinion surveys. Encourage an open and honest discussion and invite the participants to share their own answers to the survey. Ask the participants to think about why their surveys are the same or different from others (i.e., environment, family background, community, adherence to laws and mores).
• They may not be able to have all of the answers at today’s session, but a list of questions for the next session can be started. A “parking lot” can be established, which is a place to write down thoughts to address next time.
• Between sessions the participants can gather more information by interviewing people from various cultures or by making a new friend that they think may be different from them. They can also gather information through the Internet or watch a movie that deals with the topic of today’s session and bring back a review.
  

Processing Questions:

1. Do you believe God accepts all humans?
2. Why do you think that God made diverse humans?
3. What would be the pro’s and con’s of a world in which every person was the same?
4. In what ways are differences good and how do communities, youth groups, schools and the world benefit from diversity?
5. How would you go about helping someone with prejudice to change in a sensitive and caring way?
6. In what other areas do we sometimes find ourselves to be stereotyping or pre-judging others and/or situations? Have you caught yourself or others practicing bias and how have you taken action to turn it around to a positive? Describe the particulars, if you are comfortable, so others may learn from your experience.
7. What are some things that can be done to influence younger children and/or your peers to be open to diversity?
8. What real incidences in schools and communities might have turned out differently had there been tolerance, understanding and equal treatment of all people? What action/s can you, as a group or as individuals, do to contribute to the betterment of humanity?
9. How many ways can you think of that stereotyping is related to doing good philanthropic work?
   

Variation:

Instead of sharing the results of the survey with the entire group, participants could be divided into smaller groups of 3-5 participants. Emphasize that this is not to be a discussion, but a sharing of information. Every participant’s opinion is important. Give the groups about 10 minutes to share their responses and the reasoning behind them.

Supplemental Activity:

Participants write and reflect during the week about what all people have in common and how we are all unique, as well. Think of creative ways that uniqueness is a gift and what the special benefits can be. See how many benefits to our school, community and world the youth can identify. Ask participants to reflect upon ways that their individual uniqueness can actually add value to the philanthropic acts they choose to do.

Opening exercise: Have each student in the group think of two truths and one lie about themselves and tell it to the group. Then see if the people in the group can guess which one was the lie. By the students guessing right or wrong it will help to introduce the idea that we all stereotype people. Say: We have now learned interesting new things about each other. In going through the process of making the decision on what was true and what information was a lie we may have practiced stereotyping. According to dictionary stereotyping is: “ an often oversimplified or biased mental picture held to characterize the typical individual of a group.” So if you decided that _________ could not have earned a 4.0 grade point average because she has blonde hair then you practiced stereotyping. In deciding what was the truth and what was a lie, did you practice stereotyping to come up with your answers?

Activity Source:

Adapted from the Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “Stereo What?”
Unit “We Are One World”

Additional Resources:

For a more Extended Discussion of Stereotyping
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 9-12) “Getting Out of the Box”
Unit “Challenging Social Boundaries”

Cultural Diversity
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “Does it Look All Right to Me”
Unit “School Environment – Diversity: Let’s Deal With It”

School Climate
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 6-8) “School Climate, Where Are We Now?”
Unit “School Environment - Diversity: Let’s Deal With It”

New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 

Attachment One

Stereo What?

Personal Opinion Survey
Directions: Put an X in the box that best describes your attitude toward each specific statement.

Statement:	Always	Usually	Sometimes	Rarely	Never
1. I am aware of the name brand of shoes my peers wear.
2. I often buy items I have seen advertised on TV.
3. I often buy items that my friends recommend.
4. It is not cool to get really good grades.
5. You are not cool if you are not involved in sports.
6. I am uncomfortable around people who are physically or mentally challenged.
7. Kids who like band are not cool.
8. I admire the really good athletes.
9. I admire the really good students.
10. There are only certain stores where I shop for my clothes.
11. People from other countries are very different from us.
12. Poor people are lazy.
13. Teachers are smarter than the students.
14. I care about another person's race.
15. People of other cultures interest me.
16. I judge people by their religion.
17. Boys are better athletes than girls.
18. Girls are smarter than boys.
19. Boys are more likely to get into trouble in school then girls.
20. I am uncomfortable around old people.
21. I stare at people who dress differently than I do.
22. I have teased other students because of their size.
23. Fat people are lazy.
24. People who shop at discount stores are poorer than people who shop at other stores.
25. I work harder and better when allowed to choose the group I work in.

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS02. Diverse Cultures MS 2. Describe the importance hearing all voices in a community and respect their right to be heard.