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Games to use in workshops, meetings and the community
| Last updated: 29.07.02 |
This is an extract from 100 ways to energise groups: Games to use in workshops, meetings and the community, published by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in 2002.
For the other sections of the publication follow this link.
This publication is also available here as a pdf file in English (file size 618kb), in French (file size 652kb) or in Spanish (file size 658kb).
"100 Ways to Energise Groups: Games to Use in Workshops, Meetings and the Community is one of a series of resources that the Alliance is developing to encourage participation in practice. It is a compilation of energisers, icebreakers and games that can be used by anyone working with groups of people, whether in a workshop, meeting or community setting."
Acknowledgements
Our thanks to all those who contributed to this publication. Particular thanks goes to staff and consultants from Alliance linking organisations, the Alliance secretariat, and key partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. In addition, we would like to reference the following publications from which we drew: Games for Training, Ross Kidd, PEER Botswana, Listening for Health, International Catholic Child Bureau and Child-to-Child Trust, 1997 and Gamesters’ Handbook – 140 Games for Teachers and Group Leaders, Donna Brandes and Howard Phillips, 1990. Illustrations in the printed publication are by Petra Rohr-Rouendaal.
Introduction
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports communities in developing countries to make a significant contribution to HIV prevention, AIDS care and support to children affected by the epidemic. Since its establishment in 1993, the Alliance has provided financial and technical support to NGOs and CBOs from more than 40 countries. In addition, the Alliance promotes good practice in community responses to HIV/AIDS more broadly through evaluation, operations research, the development of training materials and tools, as well as policy and advocacy activities.
100 Ways to Energise Groups: Games to Use in Workshops, Meetings and the Community is one of a series of resources that the Alliance is developing to encourage participation in practice. It is a compilation of energisers, icebreakers and games that can be used by anyone working with groups of people, whether in a workshop, meeting or community setting.
Why use energisers?
Facilitators use games for a variety of different reasons, including helping people to get to know each other, increasing energy or enthusiasm levels, encouraging team building or making people think about a specific issue. Games that help people to get to know each other and to relax are called ice breakers. When people look sleepy or tired, energizers can be used to get people moving and to give them more enthusiasm. Other games can be used to help people think through issues and can help to address problems that people may encounter when they are working together. Games can also help people to think creatively and laterally. This guide includes all these different types of games – in no particular order – and facilitators can pick and choose those that are most appropriate for their specific purpose and context.
Things to consider when using Energisers
- Try to use energisers frequently during a workshop or meeting, whenever people look sleepy or tired or to create a natural break between activities.
- Try to choose games that are appropriate for the local context, for example, thinking carefully about games that involve touch, particularly of different body parts.
- Try to select games in which everyone can participate and be sensitive to the needs and circumstances of the group. For example, some of these games may exclude people with disabilites, such as difficulty walking or hearing, or people with different levels of comfort with literacy.
- Try to ensure the safety of the group, particularly with games that involve running. For example, try to make sure that there is enough space and that the floor is clear.
- Try not to use only competitive games but also include ones that encourage team building.
- Try to avoid energisers going on for too long. Keep them short and move on to the next planned activity when everyone has had a chance to move about and wake up!
Other publications in this series include:
A Facilitators’ Guide to Participatory Workshops with NGOs/CBOs Responding to HIV/AIDS
An Orientation to Participation: A Guide for NGOs/CBOs Responding to HIV/AIDS (available later in 2002).
Publishing details
International HIV/AIDS Alliance
Queensberry House
104-106 Queens Road
Brighton BN1 3XF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1273 718 900
Fax: +44 1273 718 901
E-mail: mail
aidsalliance.org
Websites: www.aidsalliance.org
www.aidsmap.com
Registered British Charity Number 1038860
Date of publication: May 2002
Copyright
© The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2002.
Unless a copyright is indicated, information in this publication may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without permission from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. However, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance does request that it be cited as the source of the information. If a copyright is indicated on a photo, graphic or any other material, permission to copy these materials must be obtained from the original source.
This publication was made possible through the support of the UK Department for International Development, the US Agency for International Development (under the terms of the Award Number HRN-G-00-98 00010-00). The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the donors mentioned above.