This is the first activity where we get together and it’s the first step before group building.
The idea is to learn each other's names.
Activity: Instructions: 1. “Please stand in the circle (but you cannot stay near the person you already know)”. 2. “We will go in a circle, one by one, where everyone should say their first name (or name they like to be called during this event, e.g. a nickname), and then you should say an object or element or a being from the nature* which starts with the first letter of your name”.
e.g. Edo Elephant. (Edo is the name) and Elephant starts with the letter “E”
- “Now, everyone should repeat the names and objects of the last 3 participants”.
- At the end, you may also ask if someone wants to volunteer to repeat all names. This game which becomes the constant repetition of names is super helpful to remember most of the names already in the first hour of activity. *you may name any topic, not just nature. Important that everyone listens to each other while the activity is in progress.
It’s crucial to learn names as soon as possible because this directly impacts the group-building process and overall project success. Even though these games look childish for some participants, the repeat process works so well.
PRO TIP: Before starting this name game, tell participants that they cannot stand near a person who they knew before coming to this project. Like this, they need to learn new names instead of repeating names they already know.