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Youth Exchange on Stereotypes and Prejudices in Our Childhood Stories
Six young people left the summer heat behind to spend nearly two weeks in Oldenburg, a small, cool, and friendly town in Germany, which hosted this year’s football World Cup. From June 6-18, 2024, they, along with participants from Estonia, Ireland, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Germany, delved into the world of childhood tales and stories, exploring the stereotypes and prejudiced behaviors they had ingrained in us. Through various theatrical and digital tools, they aimed to change, rewrite, and rebuild these narratives. Their report is as follows:
“On the first morning, we started with introductory games to get to know each other better. After that, we agreed with some important rules and discussed the tasks and programs we will face over the next two weeks. In the afternoon, we were divided into teams and sent on a ‘treasure hunt’ in the city of Oldenburg. Our task was to find famous tourist attractions, proving we had found them with photos. During this activity, we got to know each other and the city better.
On the second morning, the we learned about the 8 key competencies and shared our own experiences, memories, and dreams using a drawn tree. The next program introduced one of the exchange’s key themes: the concepts of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Working in groups, we discussed, illustrated, and supported these concepts with facts and concrete examples, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of their true meanings. This was followed by a game, played by three teams, with different contests judged by a jury. In this competition, participants measured their skills in various games, but some teams began to feel something was amiss. It turned out that the winning team had been predetermined from the start, making all efforts by the other teams futile. This ‘rigged game’ prompted reflection among the participants, leading to deeper discussions about childhood stories and situations affecting entire countries. The day concluded with an intercultural evening, where each country presented their homeland through videos, presentations, dances, or childhood stories. Participants then tasted the foods, drinks, and snacks brought by representatives from other countries.
After the usual morning energizer, the coordinators outlined our next task. We could choose from four teams
Storytelling
Escape Room
‘Influencer for a Day’
Stand-Up
The teams were to create a performance or presentation – or, in the case of the Escape Room, set up an escape room – all based on stereotypes. We had until lunchtime to brainstorm and prepare these for the next day. In the afternoon, we traveled to Varel, a small town 30 km from Oldenburg on the North Sea coast, where we spent our free time on the beach. Some ventured into the cold water, while others relaxed on the shore. Back in Oldenburg, our little team had dinner at the local ‘Big Kebab’ restaurant, ending the day recharged, well-fed, and happy.
After the usual wake-up exercises, it was time to present the productions we had prepared the previous day. The first team, Storytelling, presented two Slovenian stories, and we had to identify the hidden oppressions and lessons. Next came the highly successful Escape Room, set in an old basement, where the other teams had to find the key to escape. Its theme was bullying and disadvantages, as some team members were restricted by conditions such as blindness, muteness, or tied hands. Then came the ‘Influencer for a Day’ team, bringing short videos to life, where we had to distinguish between funny and stereotypical videos. Last but not least was the Stand-Up comedy stage. Here, participants reviewed the countries represented at the exchange, using well-known negative stereotypes discussed over the past days to humorously entertain the audience… perhaps except for those being ‘roasted,’ but that’s the essence of Stand-Up. After much laughter and some frustration, the evening ended peacefully with everyone free to engage in common games, watch movies, or relax.
On the fifth day, we focused primarily on our ecological footprint, calculating the environmental impact of our travel using the Greendex application and discussing how to offset it. Then our leader, Gabriella, took over and introduced the art of Kamishibai (Paper Theater). After a short, beautiful demonstration, we divided into teams and started brainstorming. Each team received a type of stereotype to incorporate into their story. From the first minute, we took the tasks seriously, approaching them with great interest and dedication. After long hours, we presented our creations to each other, showcasing five very well-executed and touching stories. After the presentations, we discussed the lessons of the performed stories, the stereotypical forms we discovered, and how we could change them. After a tiring but enjoyable day, everyone relaxed at the accommodation, spending their time as they saw fit.
At the midpoint of the exchange, we held a joint evaluation, reviewing the activities, lessons, and experiences of each day, as well as the values of the 8 key competencies. Before the free afternoon, we got acquainted with the tasks for the upcoming days, involving the three production teams – two theater teams and a video/social media team. The coordinators presented their plans through lectures, interactive activities, and examples, allowing us to choose the community that suited us best. We represented ourselves in all three teams, sharing the activities we engaged in during the remaining days.
The Video/Social Media Team was responsible for updating the project’s social media pages during the project. For efficiency, we divided into several three-person subgroups to produce as much content as possible using various methods. I was personally thrilled to choose this team because, besides learning to create animation and stop-motion videos, we also improved our video editing and interview skills. We became closer to the other team members, forming a great little community where everyone took their share of the work. We constantly helped each other out if someone was unsure about something and overcame our fears by daring to approach strangers for a short interview. The videos can be viewed on the @scooby.youth Instagram profile.
The First Theater Team based their performance on childhood stories. We spent most of the days playing team-building and trust games, getting to know each other better. We shared stories that helped us tune into the theme and brought us closer, almost like a family. Our performance consisted of the exercises we played throughout the week, paired with the stories we shared with the audience, ensuring everyone contributed to building the show.
The Second Theater Team addressed the themes of discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes through a performance. The first two days of the group were spent tuning in, playing games, and getting to know each other, but elements of these exercises later reappeared in the final performance. Through the games, we learned to express emotions through movement or words, and to alternate between openness and closedness. On the third morning, three participants shared their childhood stories involving experiences of discrimination, prejudice, or stereotypes. At that time, we didn’t know these memories would become the core parts of the performance. We brought the three stories to the stage and paired each with an alternative scene that neutralized the negative feelings in the stories, showing possible solutions to each problem.”
During the exchange, the young participants made incredible progress, had the opportunity to develop, share, and implement their ideas, and got to know new cultures and people, broadening their horizons and connections. At the Final Show, as coordinators, we watched with pride and joy as the participants presented the fruits of their labor with determination, seriousness, and full concentration, showcasing their completed performances, videos, and stories.
