WHAT MAKES MOVEMENTS AND PERSONALITIES SOCIALIST?

> AGE: 12 YEARS + > TIME: 90 min (depending on group size)

MATERIALS: Statements from Annex 1 written on A4 posters and stuck on walls in room

This activity has been developed using the statements that the participants of IFM-SEI’s Resist! project generated in a workshop of the same name.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Stick the statements up on the walls or spread around the room. If you have a larger space available, you can spread them over a large area/different rooms.

2. Ask the participants to walk around and read each of the statements (in no particular order). If they are reading at the same time with someone else, they can discuss the meaning and their thoughts about it. (20 mins)

3. Once everyone has read each statement, tell people to stand by the one that interests them most (it can be because they strongly agree, do not agree, or maybe don’t quite understand it).

4. Then split into small groups based on which statements people have chosen, if people are alone, group them together so that the groups are of a roughly equal size.

5. Ask the groups to arrive at an understanding of capitalism and anticapitalism, beginning the discussion with their quotes. They should produce a poster explaining their ideas. (20−30 mins)

6. Present back and discuss people’s different ideas (20−30 mins)

What are the common ideas about capitalism/anticapitalism?

How are the presentations different?

Why are there so many people who support a capitalist economic system

Can we reach a common understanding?

Why is anticapitalism connected to climate justice?

STATEMENTS:

Creating a fairer world.

Opposing societal norms that lead to inequality and injustice.

Fight against a society which is built on the exploitation of nature and labour and a society that splits us into two genders and that is inextricably linked to racial inequalities.

To recognise the inherent flaws and failures of capitalism, and to suggest better ways of organising an economy.

Pushing back against a system that is built upon financial/economic growth and instead taking an approach that values other aspects such as our envi- ronment, health and social connections as opposed to a consumerist disposable “time is money” mentality.

Breaking down exploitative, oppressive systems that capitalism upholds in its continued striving for financial gain.

Resisting a political and economic system that favours a small percentage of society whilst oppressing and marginalising the majority. Being anti-capitalist means recognising and fighting against inequalities on all scales, local to global.

Anti-capitalism to me means freedom and having equal opportunities in life.

Being anti-capitalist means that you acknowledge your position in society and use your privilege to challenge an undemocratic and unsustainable system.

Activities On Socialist Education For Leaders

Take A Stand On Education

> AGE: 30-60 min, depending on the number of statements discussed

> OBJECTIVES: TO REFLECT ON OUR EDUCATIONAL VALUES

MATERIALS: Posters with YES and NO, displayed on opposite sides of the space. We encourage you to add your own statements, depending on your organisation’s context.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Explain to the group that you will read out a series of statements about education. For each statement, they should decide whether they agree or disagree with it, and then go to the side of the room with the YES poster if they agree, or to the NO side if they don’t agree.

2. Once everyone has chosen a side (no one should be in the middle - even if they are not sure they should pick one side, but can change it later), ask some people to share why they have chosen this side. Let first a person of the “YES” side speak, then someone from the other side etc.

3. If someone is convinced by an argument of the other side, they can switch sides. If no one joins one side, a facilitator can also join in to play “Devil’s advocate”.

4. After a few minutes of discussion, continue with the next statement.

STATEMENTS:

As an educator, you should remain neutral in discussions between participants.

Children should be able to decide what they want to learn.

We should not talk about political parties with children, as this could be seen as political indoctrination.

As educators, we should try to avoid conflicts between participants.

As educators, we need to prepare the children to be successful in the world we live in.

During our camps, we should let children make all decisions through camp councils.

Nonformal education cannot take space in formal education settings.

It is important, that in our activities, we also give spaces that are reserved for discriminated groups, such as only women* and girls* or only People of Colour.