MPPs giving their ideas about what they would take with them if they had to flee their homes A small group doing a role play. This activity helped MPPs see how difficult it is to find something out or make yourself understood if you cannot communicate by language - which many refugees can't when they arrive in a foreign country.

• Imagine you are suddenly told to leave your home within the next half hour. What SEVEN things would you take with you? MPPs had to decide on their own personal choices before discussing them with the whole group and deciding the final seven that the group would take.

• Role play: in threes one person had to communicate WITHOUT SPEAKING to the other two e.g. finding out where the bus stop was.

• Discussion: what can WE do in school or in our local areas to help refugees and make them welcome?

Ben Symons (Stanley Juniors)
"We had to decide what we would take with us if we were forced out of our homes. We were only allowed to take 7 things. I chose the things I thought I'd need most like a toothbrush, books - that sort of thing. The activity made you feel like you were a refugee yourself, which made it a lot more interesting."