Decolonize your world!
How would the world be today, if colonialism didn’t happen? Increase your awareness about the impact of colonialism on our everyday life and start decolonizing your perspective while reflecting on racism!
Warm up
Have a look at this world map with your buddy!
What makes it different from the maps you usually see?
When you have found at least 3 differences, start to travel with your eyes! Go from country to country, from continent to continent.
What do you notice for the first time? What surprises you?
Share your observations with each other.
Check if you guessed the main points!
Learn
The world map you are used to seeing, that is, the one with Europe in the middle, is not just used in Europe but in the whole world.
This eurocentric representation of the world shows how colonialism has shaped the world as it is today.
Discover more here
Dive in 1
Global North and Global South substitute the pair "developed country"/ "developing country" which roots on following myth:
The development of the Global North is the best and must be emulated!
Why is the development of the Global North not the ideal?
Brainstorm with your buddy about its negative side.
Done?
Then check if you find some further ideas here!
Dive in 2
Now get inspired by another mode of living, the one of many traditional civilizations, which, in some world regions, still fight to survive.
Have you maybe lived in a community or a region that has a mode of living similar to the SUMAK KAWSAY? Or do you know of someone who has a more sustainable way of living?
Share this with your buddy and if nothing comes to mind, interview people from all over the world and/or older people who can tell you about the past!
Create 1
Now let’s go back to the origin of the imperial mode of living. What do you know about how colonialism has been perpetrated? Choose a country which has either been a coloniser or colonised which you are both interested in and using various sources, investigate how human rights have been disrespected.
Present your insights in the format you like (slides, video, audio, theatre piece, literary piece) and have it uploaded in the work.it area!
Tip: it might be useful if at least one of you has a personal link to the country chosen.
Create 2
In museums there are frequently objects and even human remains (e.g. mummified bodies or skulls) which have just been taken away without any permission. That is: stolen!
If you have the chance, go to a museum or visit a museum online. Observe the objects they have there.
Choose together one which originates from far away. What is its story? Where is it from, who used it, who found it… and what is the story behind how it ended up where you can see it?
Visualise its story with a timeline and mark what information is real and which is your assumption!
Have it uploaded in the work.it area!
Create 3
The concept of ‘race’ has been used by Europeans to justify slavery and the violent occupation of far territories.
Look at three core strategies which make it easier to harm others
And now read what Lawrence Oduro-Sarpong shares:
Done?
Great! Now you are ready to create a comic strip or a short story in which you represent everyday racism and show how people who are bystanders should intervene, supporting the victim and stopping the perpetrator.
If none of you has ever experienced an explicitly racist situation, you might want to interview someone who likely did.
Important: Be sensitive: ask people who you are close with, let them tell you what they want, don’t pressure for details and don’t question their stories.
Get some ideas for interventions of bystanders
Reflect
Humans always migrated from one place to another all through history. But when European nations and companies started to expand their power all over the globe this shaped the world we inhabit in a particular way.
What relations do you recognise between colonialism, the imperial mode of living and contemporary migration towards Europe?
Share your thoughts with your buddy and create a postcard together!
Download the free KIDS4ALLL app and your wish comes true!
