SELF-ORGANISATION

Adults don’t do something for children but together with them. On the one hand, it is an education aiming at productive, socially useful work. On the other hand, one of its goals is collective self-organisation of work and consumption. Group life, preparation of events, solidarity actions and above all the "Children's Republic" are possibilities to practise this. Self-organisation is the experience that we can change things if we do it together.

TIPS:

During your camps, follow the tradition of “Children’s Republics”. Let the children either vote for a camp council, or organise regular full assemblies to take decisions - e.g. on bedtime or programme. There will of course always be some rules that you have to set to guarantee children’s safety or following the law, e.g. on alcohol and drugs. Explain why some rules are non-negotiable, but live with the decisions that they take on negotiable things.

> ACTIVITY: WHO SHOULD DECIDE?

> AGE: Any (children and leaders)

OBJECTIVES:

> DURATION: 45 min

To think about participation appropriate to evolving capacities