Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

William James (1842–1910)
American Philosopher

Often so-called facts are presented to us, which we accept without further questioning. This excellent game teaches people to question further. Participants present key information about themselves and introduce themselves.

Knowing that there are in-built lies participants concentrate much more in ‘Fact of My Life’ compared to the mere self-presentation. Accordingly, there is more fun and a higher recollection of the facts.

It is fun when elaborated in graphic way, e.g. on a flipchart. At the same time the facilitator can assist and guide participants for better work with flipcharts and boards. Then, it will be much more memorizable, especially if you integrate it in the graphic workshop protocol (see post-processing).

Objective of Facts of my life

Facts of my life - Which of the facts are true?
Facts of my life – Which of the facts are true?

Self-presentation and introduction of the group.

Resources

Flip chart sheets, marker, cards.

Time

5 mins writing, 3 mins per participant presentation time.

Task

Each participant writes five to seven ‘facts’ about their own life on a flip chart sheet. Some of them are true, some not — it’s up to the participant as there is no rule stating how many have to be true or untrue. After 5 mins of writing, all of the participants come to the front to present their ‘facts’ one after the other. The others judge what is true or untrue.

Optional: If you have more time you can ask participants to visualize ‘Facts of My Life’ on a flipchart or a maternal board. This then might be a good visualization exercise and a practical exercise for the use of flipchart, cards, markers, colors etc.

Phase

A starter game.

Visualising 'Facts of My Life' is more fun and a good exercise, but requires much more time.
Visualising ‘Facts of My Life’ is more fun and a good exercise, but requires much more time.

Flashlight

You freeze a current moment of the workshop by doing a quick round of all the participant to know the current emotion or opinion.

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Newspaper Interview

Newspaper Interview is an ice-breaker activity to familiarize your participants with each other. Create teams of two participants who interview each other. It’s advisable to mix gender, organisation, and age groups.

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Wanted Poster

This is an ice-breaker activity to familiarize participants with each other. The form of the wanted poster reduces information to the relevant and the time needed.Make teams of two who interview each other and draw a Wanted Poster. It’s recommended to mix gender, organisation, and age groups.

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Animal

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