Envelope moment
Who
Vlaamse Scholierenkoepel
Why
The good practice is developed to have a discussion where every young person is heard.
What
Every class at school gets an envelope at the same moment. In this envelope is a question (e.a. what school rule do you think needs to be changed and into what?). Every class discusses for about 10 minutes and puts their communal answer back in the envelope. You have 2 choices now:
a) every envelope goes to a group of young persons who then try to come to a suggestion for the school head.
b) a deputy of each class takes the envelope and discusses with the other deputies to come to an answer everyone is pleased with.
--> Young persons who want to know what the other young persons at school are thinking, what their ideas are.
How
Every young person can join. Every one has the chance to express his/her opinion. Because the discussion is in the classroom, chances are that the more quiet young persons will also be heard.
When
During class hours. It can be adapted to every situation where people are set into groups with a discussion leader.
Effect
It’s tested on a number of schools by different pupils over the years.
It may seem like a lot of work, but many schools have already tried this. You can start with just the classes in the same year and then build up.
Each young person is given the opportunity to give his/her opinion on a certain topic: they think along about the school and actively participate.
! It is important to let the young people know what happens with the results. After all, knowledge is also part of participation!
This tools is also known as 'het groene enveloppemoment':
Knudde, H. & Van Dijck, J. Oprechte deelneming. Werkmap leerlingenparticipatie voor alle kinderen in de basisschool. Doedèskadèn vzw in samenwerking met het Kinderrechtencommissariaat, 2009.
Assessment
Effectiveness:
High degree / regularly
Gender sensitivity:
High degree / regularly
Culture sensitivity:
High degree / regularly
Doable (practical):
High degree / regularly
Participatory:
High degree / regularly
Replicable and adaptable:
High degree / regularly
Assessment/evaluated:
High degree / regularly
Type of good practice
Practical tool
Themes
Promoting democratic values, Youth civic participation
Duration
One day or less
Type of activity
Group activity