Activity 1: My story in post-its (20 min)

Make a chart or use the wall with the following headings:

• A story I feel comfortable sharing

• A story I feel uncomfortable to share

• Three people I feel comfortable to share with

• Three people I don't feel comfortable sharing with

Each learner is given four post-its: yellow, pink, blue and green. They must not write their name on them. Tell the learners that you will be re-writing the answers from the post-its before the class sees them. 

Step 2:

On their blue post-it, the learner should write the title of a personal story they would feel comfortable to share:

• On social media
• In class
• With a friend
• With family

e.g. ‘My childhood’; ‘My family’; ‘The day I was bullied’.

Step 3:

On their pink post-it, the participant must write one word that summarises a story they would not feel comfortable sharing: e.g. ‘divorce’, ‘loss’, ‘depression’.

Step 4:

On their yellow post-it, the participant should write down three people they would feel comfortable sharing their story with: e.g. Mom, Dad, sister.

Step 5:

On their green post-it, the participant writes down three people they would feel uncomfortable or unsafe sharing their story with: e.g. uncle, policeman

Step 6:

Collect all the post-its and place them under each heading on the chart or the wall accordingly. Shuffle each colour before putting them up so that learners remain anonymous. In pairs, let the learners come up and look at the board.

Step 7:

Explain public and private telling.

Definition: Private telling is stories you write or draw that are for yourself only, to help you think and understand yourself better. Public telling is the stories that you are happy to share with others.

Use the 'Public and private telling' presentation.