Friendship Group development Session 5: 3 Hours Session 5: 3 hours Youth Alive Training

Goal: To facilitate group bonding, gain confidence Needs: Tennis ball, feelings cube, power point slides, Youth Alive Participants’ Manual Goal: To learn practical techniques on facilitating group bonding and working together, and gain increased confidence in taking personal risks as leaders   Needs: 1. A small ball such as a tennis ball or foam ball 2. Supplies for active group games during “movement interludes”, including Feelings cubes (one per Colored-cluster group). 3. Power point slides 4. Youth Alive Participants’ Manual Youth Alive Training

Friendship Group (FG) goals Facilitate spiritual growth/development Learn the names of FG members Set FG ground rules that group has ownership and commitment to them Create a safe place for friendship Help everyone participate Discuss what participants are learning Offer opportunity to discuss issues and personal concerns Build connection/teamwork Friendship Group (FG) goals Facilitate spiritual growth/development Learn the names of FG members Set FG ground rules that group has ownership and commitment to them Create a safe place for friendship Help everyone participate Discuss what participants are learning Offer opportunity to discuss issues and personal concerns Build connection/teamwork Youth Alive Training

What are Friendship Groups? Most important activity in the program of Youth Alive Small group, gathering frequently, giving time for adult and youth to relax and be connected with one another Friendship Groups are the most important activity in the program of Youth Alive. This is a small group, gathering frequently, giving time for adults and youth to relax and be connected with one another. Some youth come from unhappy backgrounds, thus the Friendship Group especially in a local Youth Alive club, can truly become a good and positive peer support for them. It is a place where the participants get connected with one another. Youth Alive Training

Steps to build a Friendship Group Step 1 Set the stage Step 2 Create safety Step 3 Watch energy levels Step 4 Select activities to facilitate group development Step 5 Process activities for learning Step 6 Facilitate connectedness among Friendship Group members Steps to build a Friendship Group Step 1 Set the stage Step 2 Create safety Step 3 Watch energy levels Step 4 Select activities to facilitate group development Step 5 Process activities for learning Step 6 Facilitate connectedness among Friendship Group members Youth Alive Training

Step 1: Set the stage Find a private place Keep group size between 10 and 12 Sit in a circle, everyone sees Adult & Youth facilitators sit across from each other for “help” signals Everyone should be on the same eye-level Step 1: Set the stage Find a private place Keep the group size between 10 and 12 Sit in a circle so everyone sees each other Adult and youth facilitators sit across from each other so signals for “help” may be seen Everyone should be on the same eye-level Youth Alive Training

Step 2: Create safety Review ground rules Use various low risk activities in early session Help members feel accepted Use various activities to promote connectedness Support “Honor, Dignity and Respect” philosophy Step 2: Create safety Review ground rules Use various low risk activities in early session Help members feel accepted Use various activities to promote connectedness Support “Honor, Dignity and Respect” philosophy Youth Alive Training

Step 3: Watch energy levels Leaders need to watch for signal needs: Needs for information Needs for movement Needs to express self Step 3: Watch energy levels Watch for signals of various needs; then match the activity to meet the needs of the group. People have three basic needs, and it is demonstrated non-verbally: If there is a need for information, then there are clear body posture changes. For example, be attentive, raise hands, body leaning forward. If there is a need for movement, then participants become fidgety or sleepy. If there is a need to express self, than staff will clear their throat, lean forward, or take a breath, etc. Youth Alive Training

Share what have you learned from these games Knots and Vacation Share what have you learned from these games Introduce two low-risk activities now and allow 15-20 minutes for these two activities to be played and processed individually. Knots (See Youth Alive Participants’ Manual, page 43) Vacation (See Youth Alive Participants’ Manual, page 55) Ask the members of the Colored-cluster groups to share what they have experienced in this session. Youth Alive Training

Step 4: Facilitate group development Participate in group activities Process what they have learned Develop emotional commitment to a choice of staying drug-free Step 4. Select and conduct activities to Facilitate Group Development Through participating in group activities, Colored-cluster group members need to process what they have learned and begin to develop emotional commitment to a choice of staying drug-free. Involvement motivates toward commitment. The group facilitators can use several techniques to assist participation: Youth Alive Training

Group facilitator techniques Give permission to talk in a safe and structured way: Ball has the floor Pen for “microphone” Risk Slips Group facilitator techniques Give permission to talk in a safe, structured way, Some ways to do this: Toss a ball from one person to another. The person with the ball has the floor and can speak, and then choose to whom to throw the ball next. Option: can use a pen/pencil as a “microphone” in a similar way. Risk slips (See Youth Alive Participants’ Manual, pages 78-80.) This game helps participants to share in a structured way. Don’t give the slips out in advance or some will be more advantaged. Let group members draw slips from a bag or envelope.   Youth Alive Training

Demonstrate by going first As a facilitator, demonstrate what is expected by going first. Youth Alive Training

Facilitate group development Through the activities: Opening (getting acquainted) Working (share ideas and thoughts) Closing (think of what they’ve learned and pray for one another to enhance group’s closeness Facilitate group development through three major stages of activities OPENING: Get acquainted by using low risk activities to know each other and build the trust level. WORKING: Use activities for members to share ideas and thoughts with others and support one another. CLOSING: Allow 5 – 10 minutes of the FG slot to bring the session to a close, helping members to think about what they have learned and its application, and to pray for one another in order to enhance the group’s closeness. The closing activity needs to be chosen by the group. Break into Colored-cluster groups and select another low risk activity game until the group feels free to share. Suggested low risk activity game: Fire (See Youth Alive Participants’ Manual, page 42) Scary See Youth Alive Participants’ Manual, page 53) Youth Alive Training

Step 5. Process Activities for Learning Experience the exercise Identify what they felt or thought Analyze the meaning Generalize, what did you learn 1. What have we learned? Use the EIAG technique to help Colored-cluster group members learn from the exercise as well as enjoy it. E = Experience the exercise I = Identify what they felt or thought. Ask, “What did you feel/think?” A =Analyze the meaning. Ask, “What happened to you or to the group?” G = Generalize. Ask, what did you learn? For example: I learned acceptance, patience, etc. Focus on the spiritual lesson that could be drawn from each of the activities performed. In this way the youth, while playing games, could be drawn to Jesus, the highest power that can build up resiliency. Break again into Colored-cluster groups. Try an activity which introduces some working level and processing experiences now. Youth Alive Training

Trust Walk game Choose the Trust Walk game (See Youth Alive Participants’ Manual, page 88) Process the game by asking: Youth Alive Training