Activities Database
Activities and Prayers for your THINKfast, classroom, workshop or meeting!
To find activities and reflections best suited to your event, you can search our database below based on your group size, the issues you'd like to explore, or the type of game you're looking for. If you'd like to see them all, simply leave the search empty and scroll through the list. More Icebreakers, Awareness Activities, and Prayer and Reflections will be added to this database on an ongoing basis - so bookmark this page for your reference!
| Activity Title | Type & Issue | Objective | Duration | Group size, materials and preparation | Activity file(s) | Curriculum connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% Controls 50% |
Icebreaker Economy |
Raise critical awareness about the concentration of control and distribution of the world’s wealth. | 15-20 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
 Click here to download |
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| 2017 THINKfast Activity Package | Awareness Activity | To experience all prayers, activities and icebreakers created for the 2017 THINKfast |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
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| 2018 THINKfast Activity Package | Awareness Activity | experience all prayers, activities and icebreakers created for the 2018 THINKfast |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
||
| A Divided World |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger, Economy |
To demonstrate how the world's food is divided globally and how this inequality impacts people's rights. | 30-45 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| A Moment For Grace: A Prayer for Refugees |
Prayer and Reflection Forced Migration |
To reflect on our own prejudices and situate our prayers for refugees within our faith. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| A Step Along the Way | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 10 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| A Walk for Water |
Awareness Activity Water |
Learn about the issue of water commodification and related Indigenous faith perspectives | 2 - 2 ½ hours |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Activism Dodgeball |
Action Starter Water, Mining, Food and Hunger |
To generate ideas for group action for social change | 30-60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| An Environmental Sabbath |
Prayer and Reflection Water, Mining, Education and Health, Environment, Economy |
To reflect and pray. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Around the World | Icebreaker | Get to know each other. | 10-20 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Banana Split Game |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger, Economy |
To introduce the banana supply chain and how the profits from the sale of a banana are divided among those involved in the supply chain. | 20-40 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
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| Bless the Hands | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray for workers and those who carry heavy burdens. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Book excerpt: The Abolitionists |
Prayer and Reflection Education and Health, Environment, Economy |
To reflect on an except from: The Energy of Slaves, Andrew Nikiforuk. | 10-20 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Bountiful Harvest | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 15-30 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Breaking the Cycle of Hunger Game |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
Students will gain insight into what causes hunger, hinders development and what can break the cycle of hunger. | 40-60 minutes |
Small Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Buen Vivir: The social philosophy inspiring movements in South America |
Prayer and Reflection Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To introduce the social philosophy of Buen Vivir. | 20-30 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Campaign Analysis package 2019-20 new |
Online Learning Environment |
To get students familiar with the 2019-20 For Our Common Home campaign and injustices happening in the Amazon biome | 3-5 hours |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Catching Fire (For Our Common Home) new |
Awareness Activity Environment |
Understand the challenges for communities defending their homes in the Amazon through the experience of defending or exploiting the forest for profit | 30-60 minutes |
Small / Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Climate Balloons |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To critically analyze the local human causes of climate change and the negative global impacts. | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Closing Liturgy and Commissioning | Prayer and Reflection | To end the fast and go forward with the Spirit. | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
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| Come Holy Spirit | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 15-30 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Cookie Mining |
Awareness Activity Mining |
To learn about the impact of extractive industries on communities and the planet. | 60-90 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
ON 1-8 ON 9-12 |
| Creation Story |
Awareness Activity Environment |
To help students aged 5-12 years old learn about the Creation Story and how it calls us to be responsible stewards of Creation. | 60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
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| CST Citizenship assignment new | Online Learning | To discover Catholic Social Teachings and apply them with a citizenship lens | 2 hours |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Drinking Water Mindfully |
Prayer and Reflection Water |
To be mindful of the value and wonders of water, a unique fluid without which life could not exist. | 15 minutes |
Small Few Little |
Click here to download |
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| Drop the Keys | Icebreaker | To have fun, energize and laugh. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Earth Credo |
Prayer and Reflection Water, Mining, Food and Hunger, Environment |
To reflect and pray. | 10 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Eco B-I-N-G-O new |
Icebreaker Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
To get participants to know each other and to reflect on consumption patterns | 15-20 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Eco Prayer new |
Prayer and Reflection Environment |
To reflect on the impact we have on Our Common Home and pray for change | 10-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Eco-Friendly Scavenger Hunt (home edition) new |
Online Learning Environment |
To help families identify green (and less green) practices at home | 1 hour |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Eco-Friendly Scavenger Hunt |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Environment |
To enable participants to recognize environmentally-friendly practices. | 1 hour |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Feasting and Fasting |
Prayer and Reflection Education and Health, Food and Hunger |
To reflect and pray. | 5-10 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Food Art Game |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
To have participants conceptualize their understanding of the issue of food sovereignty through art, which can help raise awareness of the issues in the larger community. | 1-2 hours |
Small / Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Food or Fuel |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger, Environment |
To introduce participants to the struggles faced by small-scale farmers in the Global South. | 60-90 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
ON 6-8 |
| Food Quiz (Jeopardy Game) |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger |
To introduce or review facts about Hunger, Food, and Development and Peace. | 30 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
 Sow Much Love Jeopardy Game (Powerpoint) |
ON 8 |
| Forced Migration and the Culture of Encounter |
Prayer and Reflection Forced Migration |
To reflect on migration in our faith tradition and introduce the global Share the Journey campaign. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Frisbee Toss |
Icebreaker Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To encourage participants to get to know one another and think about the environment. | 15-20 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| From Fire to Action new |
Action Starter Environment |
Consider new eco-friendly habits we can adopt and take action in solidarity with human rights defenders in the Amazon | 60-90 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Garbage Inventory |
Awareness Activity Water, Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
To raise awareness of how much waste is generated on a daily basis in participants’ school, parish or community. | 60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Get Your Facts Right | Icebreaker | Get to know each other. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
Click here to download |
|
| Global Reality Meal |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger |
To provide insight into hunger through an effective dramatization of the inequality of our world. | 1-2 hours |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Going on a Picnic! |
Icebreaker Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To learn about the environmental impacts of food consumption patterns. | 15-20 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Good Samaritan Story |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To learn about the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Solidarity and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, through the parable of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). | 30 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Grocery Store Challenge |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To see what options are available to us for local, sustainable or fair-trade foods, why these are important, and what changes we can make to support these options. | 1-2 hours |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| In the name of the Father... in the shoes of peoples in the Amazon new |
Awareness Activity Mining, Environment |
Reflect on our impacts on the planet and develop greater awareness of the inequalities climate change produces | 30-45 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Journalling | Prayer and Reflection | Reflect on the day and what it means to attend THINKfast | 20-30 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Just Like Me |
Prayer and Reflection Forced Migration |
To expand the circle of people for whom we have genuine concern and encourage connection with those on the other side of the world. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Laudato Si for Kids booklet new |
Online Learning Education and Health, Environment |
To help young people understand the main points of Laudato Si' | 3 hours |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Laudato Si' Jenga |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
Understand the key ideas in the encyclical Laudato Si’ and catalyze actions to promote a healthier planet | 45-60 minutes |
Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Leaving No Carbon Footprints Behind! |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To promote the making and sharing of individual commitments that will reduce negative contributions to climate change. | 60-90 minutes |
Small / Large Many Little |
Click here to download |
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| Litany - Teach Us and Show Us the Way | Prayer and Reflection | To remind us of our blessings and pray for those who suffer. | 15-20 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Living on Less Than $1 a Day | Prayer and Reflection | To give mindful context to living in poverty. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Living Simply Art Activity |
Awareness Activity Water, Mining, Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To have participants depict the connection between our lifestyles and their environmental impacts. | 1-2 hours |
Small / Large Many Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Moving People Skit |
Awareness Activity Forced Migration |
To enable participants to reflect on the value and dignity of each person, and explore the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Oh, Great Spirit |
Prayer and Reflection Education and Health |
To reflect and pray. | 5-10 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| On the Move: A Refugee Simulation Activity |
Awareness Activity Forced Migration |
To help participants appreciate the struggles a refugee family may experience in their journey to safety, and better empathise with the situation of refugees. | 50 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Opening Liturgy | Prayer and Reflection | To begin your fast mindfully and create a faith context for the event. | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Orange Trading Game |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger, Economy |
To understand some of the pressures facing poor farmers in the South; that many factors are completely out of their hands and that it is still possible to be poor even if you work very hard. To introduce the concept of fair trade. | 45-60 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Powerdown Olympics |
Awareness Activity Environment |
To demonstrate our dependency on fossil fuels and their impact on our planet. | 45-60 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
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| Praised Be | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayer for Planting |
Prayer and Reflection Food and Hunger, Environment |
To reflect and pray. | 5-10 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayer for Strength to Act | Prayer and Reflection | To give us courage to act for justice. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayer in Response to the Climate Emergency new | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect on the impact we have on Our Common Home and pray for change | 5 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayer inspired by Pope Francis' Sept 1 Message new |
Prayer and Reflection Environment |
To reflect on the impact we have on Our Common Home and pray for change | 5 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayer of St. Theresa of Avila | Prayer and Reflection | To remind us of our role as the hands and feet of Christ on Earth. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayer to Saint-Joseph | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 15-30 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Prayers on Water and Justice |
Prayer and Reflection Water |
To reflect and pray | 5 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Prescription: Charity and Justice |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Economy |
To explain and explore concepts of charity and justice. | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Rainmaker |
Energizer Water |
Energize the group and have fun by creating your own rainstorm | 5 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Reflections on Living Simply |
Prayer and Reflection Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To reflect on quotes about living simply. | 10-20 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Scrambling for Resources |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Economy |
To explore the relationships between gender, fairness and wealth distribution. | 30-45 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Secure the Water |
Icebreaker Water |
Get to know each other / Energizer. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
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| Shoe Pile Mingle | Icebreaker | To move around and get to know each other. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Simplicity Challenge |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
To challenge participants to reduce environmentally-harmful practices. | Throughout a THINKfast |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Solidarity Art project new |
Online Learning Environment |
To share solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Amazon | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
Click here to download |
|
| Solidarity Art project new |
Online Learning Environment |
To share solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Amazon | 30 minutes/day for 7 days |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
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| Solidarity Celebration | Prayer and Reflection | To end the fast and celebrate your achievement as a group. | 1-3 hours |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
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| Solidarity Circle |
Awareness Activity Water, Mining, Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To understand the relationship between distributive justice, solidarity, and human dignity. | 10-20 minutes |
Large None Little |
Click here to download |
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| Solidarity Writing project new | Online Learning | To share solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Amazon | 30-60 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
Click here to download |
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| Solidarity Writing project new |
Online Learning Environment |
To share solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Amazon | 30-60 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
Click here to download |
|
| Sow Much Love Student Activity Guide |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger |
Small / Large Few Little |
Sow Much Love Youth Activity Guide |
AB K-6 AB 7-9 ON 1-8 Arts and Health ON 9-12 |
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| Taste Test: Food |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger |
Demystify the source of food. | 25-30 minutes |
Small / Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Taste Test: Water |
Awareness Activity Water, Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
Demystify the bottled water industry. | 25-30 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| The Candy Currency Game |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Economy |
To illustrate charity and justice responses to poverty and inequality. | 15 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| The Community Game |
Awareness Activity Mining, Environment |
To introduce participants to the realities of community destruction for resource extraction. | 1-3 hours |
Small / Large Many Little |
Click here to download |
|
| The Farm Workers' Prayer |
Prayer and Reflection Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
To reflect and pray. | 10 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| The Journey of Bottled Water |
Awareness Activity Water, Economy |
Learning about the global impact of bottled water. | 30-45 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| The KAIROS Blanket Exercise |
Awareness Activity Education and Health |
To understand the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada in historical and contemporary contexts and inspire action for reconciliation. | 90-120 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates of D&P |
Action Starter Education and Health |
Discover the work of three Nobel Peace Prize Laureates who fought or continue to fight for social justice and the examples they set for us. | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| The Seed Game |
Awareness Activity Food and Hunger |
To understand the struggle of farmers to retain their traditional right over seeds, to understand the ways corporations are attempting to privatize seeds, and to see the role the government can play in ensuring the rights of their citizens are respected. | 60-90 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Activity guide,  Presentation, Glossary |
|
| The Small Family Farming Challenge |
Awareness Activity Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment |
Understand the role of small family farmers in feeding the world’s population. | 60-90 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| The Waves Crash for... |
Energizer Water |
Get the group moving around and encourage participants to think about their daily water use | 15 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
Click here to download |
|
| The World Goes Shopping |
Awareness Activity Economy |
To demonstrate spending priorities of people in different countries. | 15-20 minutes |
Small / Large Some Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Three Interactions | Awareness Activity | Introduce the Culture of Encounter by having participants interact at various levels, from surface-level to deeper sharing | 60-90 minutes |
Small / Large None Little |
Click here to download |
|
| To Reach Across Borders |
Prayer and Reflection Forced Migration |
To reflect and pray for refugees, and to connect spiritually with people far away. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
|
| Trying to Get Home | Icebreaker | Get to know each other / Energizer. | 5-15 minutes |
Small None Little |
Click here to download |
|
| U Munt: Water Simulation Game |
Awareness Activity Water |
Learn about water scarcity in the Global South and the threat of privatization; Develop ideas and take action in response to new information | 60-90 minutes |
Large Many Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Walk Guide for Share the Journey |
Action Starter Forced Migration |
Show your solidarity with migrants by organizing a walk in support of Pope Francis's global Share the Journey campaign - create your banners and get walking! | 30-90 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |
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| Walk Lightly |
Prayer and Reflection Water, Mining, Education and Health, Food and Hunger, Environment, Economy |
To reflect and pray. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Walking for Water |
Awareness Activity Water, Economy |
To understand global disparity through unfair division of the world's resources. | 30-45 minutes |
Small / Large Few Little |
Click here to download |
|
| Water Bingo |
Awareness Activity Water |
Learn about global water usage and control | 45-60 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |
|
| Water Liturgy |
Prayer and Reflection Water |
These notes are designed to help you to incorporate the water theme into a Mass. |
Small / Large None Little |
Click here to download |
||
| Water: A Connecting Element |
Icebreaker Water |
To map out the ecological links between water and the rest of creation | 10-20 minutes |
Small / Large Few None |
Click here to download |
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| We Are Takers | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| We See You | Prayer and Reflection | To reflect and pray. | 5-15 minutes |
Small / Large None None |
Click here to download |
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| Women at the Heart of Peace: 10 words matching activity | Awareness Activity | Use the See, Judge, Act model to understand the centrality of women in peace making | 60-90 minutes |
Small / Large Some Lots |
Click here to download |