Section 3: Accountability & Justice
Activities
This section includes additional information about facilitating the activities included in the Accountability & Repairing Relationships Training Slide Deck. The goal is to meet the needs and learning styles of whomever you are working, and so facilitators are encouraged to include additional reading and reflection pieces as they see fit. There are also more ideas about creative facilitation strategies in Section 2: Accessibility, Inclusion, and Safety.
Session 1 – Foundational Knowledge
Activity: Grounding in what we know
Learning Outcome(s) Addressed: Develop skills to build better relationships
Intent: To ground learner(s) in the things they already know about maintaining respectful relationships; to help ground learner(s) in the overarching goal of creating and maintaining meaningful relationships and communities; to help learners see that they make choices about their behaviour in relationships.
Instructions:
- Part 1: Have learners reflect on the checklist provided in the worksheet. Remind them that these can be relevant to all kinds of different relationships (romantic, friendly, collegial, family, etc.). You can ask if they have any questions or reflections about it, but ultimately it is a personal reflective piece for themselves.
- Describe the Pyramid of Safety and how each of these levels is necessary to create healthy relationships in our lives (slide 7).
- Part 2: Allow time for learner(s) to reflect on these questions that explore different levels of the pyramid. Invite them to let you know if they are unsure about the meaning or purpose of a question.
- Once they are done, debrief with them noting that:
- They’ve just outlined they’re already working to show people they’re safe, trustworthy, honest and that they desire closeness/connection. This demonstrates they value being part of healthy relationships and communities.
- It’s important to notice how much time, thought and energy goes into creating healthy relationships.
- Our behaviour is guided by deliberate choices we make, based on what we notice about other people and the way that they respond to us.
- Safety, honesty, trust and closeness are created with deliberate thought and action and violence happens the same way. When we take a close look at specific instances, we start to notice all the small steps taken to get there.
Notes and considerations
- Because this is the first activity, learner(s) may not feel comfortable discussing much yet. This is okay as the reflective component of the activity is useful on its own.
- This activity was adapted from a Calgary Women’s Shelter resource specifically designed for men causing harm to women and children. Facilitators can find it here for additional information and learning as needed: Choosing 2 Change: a handbook for men who are concerned about their abusive behavior towards their loved ones.
Activity: Defining sexual violence
Learning Outcome(s) Addressed: Identify the spectrum of s