Before the start of the project

Your solidarity project is just weeks away! You must be very excited (and a little bit apprehensive perhaps?)

You might think that there is still quite some time to go, but in the words of wise Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. That said, failure is part of the process and we will also tackle it later on the learning path, but you see what we mean :)

To occupy your mind in those more worrisome moments, here is another step on the learning path for you.

We have designed a number of activities for you, which should help you prepare mentally and emotionally for the learning journey ahead.

In addition, here are the key reflection questions for this phase:

  • Why did I choose to become a part of this ‘solidarity project’ and what am I hoping to get out of it? 
  • How can I prepare myself to learn as much as possible during this project? What are my main learning goals? 
  • How do I prefer to learn? What do I enjoy the most about learning? 
  • What are the topics/issues that make my heart beat faster? What would I like to learn about them? 
  • What does "making a difference" in society mean to me, and how do I imagine my contribution might look?
  • What would encourage me to become a (more) active member of the community? 
  • How do I currently approach problem-solving and taking initiative when I see something that needs to be done?
  • How comfortable am I with uncertainty, risk-taking, and the possibility of failure?
  • What leadership qualities do I want to develop, and how would I like to evolve as a leader?

So, fasten your learning seatbells and let’s embark on this adventure!

Purpose Method You will need:
To understand how I prefer to learn Learning Style Avatar Creation  or 
To visualise my growth and plan my learning My River of Growth or 
To understand the way I want to create change as a citizen My Civic Footprint  
To explore what I need to take initiative Initiative Triggers Journal  
To take stock of your hopes, fears and expectations Time Capsle Letter to Future Self