The operator arranges a variety of different materials on the table or on the floor and asks participants to reflect on their “challenge” and try to figure out how it makes them feel and provides different forms of support when required.

You may lead the conversation by saying: “Each of these materials tells us something, there are smooth materials, rough materials that make us remember something or trigger emotions. When I think about the challenge I am facing, how do I feel? What is the emotion I feel? What is the material or materials that best represent it?”

Required for this session: A wide range of materials that can be
torn, broken, cut (some examples: tissue papers, paper doilies, colored papers already torn, textured papers, glossy papers. Take care when choosing the materials: it must be easy to tear as no scissors will be used at this stage and glue will be provided only at later stage); cardboard already cut out with different shapes (round, square, rectangular).

After clearing the setting, the facilitator tells the participants that what they have just made will be the background against which their representations of the challenge are to be pasted next. Gives as the only constraint to use at least one part of the human body, whether it is a body part or a face. After arranging previously cut images of different figures (it is important to offer different scenarios), hands over scissors and magazines. Suggest working freely first and then placing one’s collage in the background. Glue is distributed later.

You may lead the conversation by saying: “We have represented how the challenge makes us feel, our emotions. Now let’s try to imagine representing us toward the challenge. What do we look like? How can we represent ourselves? Let’s take the time to move, cut, and edit, without rushing.”

Required for this session: Figures cut out (make sure to present all possible variations); magazines of various kinds (from fashion, nature, interior magazines, newspapers).

The practitioner cleans the setting again and arranges a series of previously cut words in native language on the table. At this point, he asks participants to create a sentence of accomplished meaning that can best represent what they have just accomplished. once found it will be pasted on the back of the collage.

You may lead the conversation by saying: “Let’s resume our compositions. We made the background that represents how we feel, the collage that represents you toward the challenge. Can I turn what I have done into thought again? Let’s let our thought choose. Let it be free to search for the word with which to begin and let us be guided by it”

Required for this session: Word cutouts taken from newspapers, and magazines (make sure to cut out as many different words you can find).

before concluding the activity, have a quick debriefing. Ask participants to place their collages on the table for all to observe. If the group agrees, they can comment on their collages.

It is important for the facilitator to get to know the group and understand whether the group is ready to listen. If this is not considered possible a debriefing can be done on the activity.

You may lead the conversation by saying: “How did you find this experience? Easy, difficult? Why? What did you find difficult? Would anyone like to share their work with the group?

It is essential that the youth worker does not interfere in the creation of the collage and choice of materials. The youth worker answers doubts and questions without making judgments.

It is important that the setting and the materials are constructed correctly and accurately to prevent the subject from facing frustrating situations: a correct setting leads the youth worker to speak little and say only what is necessary.