Objective : To realize that unfairly distributing resources prevents some people worldwide from getting their fair share
Time : 45 minutes
Materials : Simple snack items such as juice, cheese, apples, crackers or other munchies, either purchased beforehand or contributed by the group
Group Size: Any
Instructions
Divide the group into two by drawing numbers or straws. Three-quarters of the participants should be in one group, one-quarter in the other. For example, a class of 20 would have one group made up of 15 people, the other, five.
Divide all the snacks into five portions. Next, give four-fifths of the snacks to the smaller group and the remaining fifth to the larger group. Tell the participants they have to make do with the portions each group has been given. If the groups spontaneously decide to trade snacks and work out deals to redistribute food, let them do this, but do not suggest this to them in advance. Before they eat the snacks, discuss how they are feeling. What seems to be the problem? Too few snack items or something else?
Debriefing/Wrap-up
Ask the participants to discuss how this type of unequal distribution might affect people worldwide in the long run. For example, the small group might overeat, leading to obesity, and waste food. The large group could experience hunger and malnutrition, resulting in poor health. Does this really happen in the world? What kinds of attitudes and misunderstandings might develop between two groups with different access to resources?
Adapted from Taking the World to Camp
Related Resources
Working for Change: Active Global Citizenship—available at www.worldvision.ca/resources |
