Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement

Objectives:

• To help participants identify what is really important to them
• To explore an individual’s important values and to relate how these values apply to philanthropy

Activity Theme:

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

~Helen Keller

The focus today is on storytelling. The facilitator explains to participants that everyone will focus on what is really important to them. Participants will be doing an activity that is similar to the people of the village in the story. They must decide what is most important to them. The following story is told:
“There is a tribe whose village is very close to a huge river. Every year during the rainy season the river would flood and the entire village would be completely covered with water. During the rainy season, the citizens of the village would board boats and live on them until the water receded. Besides the food and fresh water necessary to survive, each person was allowed to take one personal possession with them on board. Everything that remained in their home would be a total loss. Each year every citizen of the village would decide what was most important and leave the rest behind.”

Activity:

There needs to be a basic understanding of what is meant by “values” before continuing the activity. The facilitator writes the word, “values,” on the flipchart paper. He/she asks the participants to give words that help them understand what is meant by “values.” These words might be responsibility, respect, caring, serving, etc.

The facilitator passes out five (5) pieces of paper to each participant. They are instructed to write or to draw a symbol(s) for the five (5) things that are most important to them. Write one item per paper. These would be those items that they could not live without (after food, shelter); or another way to look at it, would be those things that make life worth living. Practice a few examples with the group: favorite book, photographs, basketball, and the family pet. The facilitator reminds the group to think beyond possessions such as toys and bikes to things like family and friends.

After the participants have the five (5) things listed on their pieces of paper, have them eliminate two (2) of them. After they have done that, have them eliminate one (1) more (down to two (2) pieces of paper). Form small groups and ask the members to share what the two things are that they have left and why they chose to keep these. Have them answer the question, “What was it about these two things that are so important to them?” Bring the small groups back together and ask for volunteers to share their important things.

Processing Questions:

1. What is it about these things that make them so valuable to you?
2. What values do they symbolize? For instance, if someone said the family dog, they are valuing caring and love. If someone mentioned a favorite book, they may be valuing knowledge and learning.
3. As a person grows older, they begin to value different things. A grandmother might take pictures of her grandchildren with her. What do you think your grandparents and parents might take?

The facilitator explains that as one goes through life, it becomes clearer what is important to them. It is important because it represents what one values in life. Being a philanthropist means caring and sharing by taking action for the common good. What a philanthropist does is to act upon his/her values.

The facilitator asks participants to think of one thing they could do in the normal course of the day that would intentionally represent what they value. Participants give examples of what this might be. If the participant does these things, they are on the way to being a philanthropist.

Application:

Tell the participants to play the values game with an important adult or parent. Have them list their five (5) most important things in life and them ask them to reduce it to two (2).

Compare with the two you were left with and share the why’s of keeping those with each other.