December 30th 2019

AGBU AYA Girls Scouts – Panagoumi Session Camila

Khatcherian

Group description: 14 girls, age between 14-15, group leaders

Requests:
-Stuff that they might relate to.
-Dealing with their members, people who might have family issues, financial issues, bullying.
-How to deal with people of different personalities (sensitive, outgoing)
-How to solve problems, be the intermediary, fix issues, sensitive topics.
-How to work well on a mental level with their partners, how to deal with people who act below
their age.

Proposed session:

Brief introduction as to what the activity will be about.

Content

1)What’s important for a team to work well? (This question will be asked to the group, and in
addition to their responses the following two attributes will be said)

-Trust: in each other, in their leader. Facilitates cooperation, working together.

-Good Leadership: Based in members’ trust, for them to accept the goals set by the leader.
The leader must be able to recognize each member’s strength and utilize it, dividing activities
according to it. Everyone must share the same amount of work. Balance.

2)How to solve problems?

Question for the group: What problems do you think you can encounter while CPs and SPs of your
patrol? We will write down what they say to address it later*.

There are three stages to problem solving:

1. Identify your problem, define it: What is the nature of the problem, understand it more
clearly, what stands in the way of achieving your goal?
2. Analyse the situation: Comprehend to the maximum of your capabilities what you want to
achieve, what barriers stand in your way, and how you can bypass them.
3. Look for solutions and make a decision : Think about possible ways to solve your problem,
often this part works better if the group brainstorms ideas. In addition to think up solutions,
it is the leader’s job to pick the solution that fits best.

When faced with a difficult situation the most important thing is to remain calm, at first this can be
hard to do but take a moment to breathe and focus. Identify, analyse, think of alternatives, and
make a decision.

*Here we will talk about the problems mentioned by the girls. If they coincide with what we’ve
already planned, we’ll tell them that it will be talked about in a few moments.
3)How to deal with bullying?

In most cases bullying happens intentionally but sometimes, we say and do things that hurt others
without us meaning to. It’s easier to stop it when it’s not on purpose, usually clear communication
helps solve the situation. For that to happen it is important to tell your girl scouts to SAY clearly that
the jokes being made, or whatever is being said, is really hurtful to her.

This can be said to the person making the comments directly, but if someone feels the need of
support from their leader it is important that you should pay attention and take action.

To the group: How would you help solve this situation, keeping in mind that bullying is unintentional?
A solution will be formed together.

Now when the bullying is intentional, the way to deal with it becomes different.

First, it’s important to know that bullies are frequently persons who have low self-esteem, or feel
that they are lacking in something, so they put others down to feel superior to them and
compensate.

A lot of times, if a lot of people make fun of person X, person Y will also make fun to fit in with the
group. Social pressure.

There can definitely be other reasons and it becomes important to identify it when dealing with a
member of your group who bullies others.

Teach your girls how to defend themselves from bullying: Bullying is only satisfying when the bullied
person shows that it has affected them, it gives bullies strength.

First, take a breath and calm down, try to not get angry and remember that it comes from
their own problems and not a true reflection of who you are. A good strategy to take would be
to smile at them and compliment them, usually this throws people off and manages to confuse
them. They might not stop at the first try, so keep doing this. If they keep doing it, ignore them and
try to start a conversation with someone else. Try not to show it has affected you. If they hear and
see someone else getting bullied, they can stand next to them and start a conversation. They can
also help by telling the bully that it’s enough and not pleasant.

As a leader, as soon as you hear or see that it’s happening you must intercede and tell the bully/ies
that this behaviour is unacceptable and goes completely against the values of Scouts.

The proper procedure is to take care of the bullied first, taking them away from the bullies and
making sure she is okay, listening to her and giving her support. Next, to speak with the bully away
from others, if it was a group of girls then talking to them separately would be best. Try not to scold
them as a teacher or a mother would, that usually results in no speaking. Ask for their side of the
story and try not to judge, stay and listen to them, and try to find out the underlying cause of their
behaviour. Tell them that hurting others helps no one, and that there are other ways to express
anger.

If the bullying is physical, action must be taken immediately, giving proper medical attention to the
bullied, and excluding the bully from the group at first. Then, conversations should be had with both.
Consider expelling the bully from the patrol is the aggressions are endangering to a person’s health.

4)How to deal with people of different personalities?

It’s important to keep in mind that we cannot force anyone to change their attitude or way of being,
this has to come voluntarily, but we CAN find a subtle way to let them know that something
unpleasant is going on.

When someone is very extroverted, they tend to be loud and enjoy the attention of the group,
wanting to have it for most of the time. It’s important that they be able to feel it, but they also need
to learn to give time to others as well. The solution to this is to pay less attention to them, focusing
the conversation around other people (asking them questions, their opinions), try to find balance in
giving them less prominent roles from time to time, so others can shine as well.

When someone is very introverted and sensitive, attention will make them feel uncomfortable and
they will want to pass up any opportunity to be in the spotlight. Make sure you give them the space
they need, but don’t forget about them, ask them questions and give them confidence by
complimenting something that they did well.

5)How to deal with sensitive topics (financial issues, family issues, emotional issues)?

We cannot change the situation they are in, what people most need is to be listened to. Give them
the opportunity to speak what burdens them in a safe environment. A safe environment is when
there is no judgement and no mockery, just listening. If you have an idea of what might make them
feel better you can tell them, but usually what most people need is for the other person to listen and
to validate their feelings “It can’t be easy to go through what you’re going through,” “it’s okay to be
sad, completely understandable,” “crying is okay”. Don’t rush to stop them from crying, crying helps
the process, and just hand them tissues or offer them a hug if you’re comfortable with it. You can
just sit next to them and give a comforting gesture (a pat in the back, squeezing the forearm).

The important thing is to truly listen to what they are telling you, and try to be there for them.

For this to happen you need to be open to communication, need to show that you always have time
to have a conversation, and that they can trust you with sensitive information. This can be done
when you don’t judge what they tell you, even the smallest things. You can give your honest opinion,
but always making sure they understand that their feelings and opinions are valid.

Questions

Girls can ask the questions they have

Roleplay

One of the individuals will act as leader and the others as members, together they will have 10-15
minutes to create a small roleplay for all of us.

Group 1 – 3 individuals
There is a big argument between two of the members about how to do something, the
leader must dissolve the situation.

Group 2 – 4 individuals
Two girls are intentionally bullying another one, how will the leader handle this situation?

Group 3 – 4 individuals
One of the members is very extroverted and keeps drawing all the focus to herself, another
of the members likes to give her attention and the other feels very annoyed by her attitude. The
leader must solve this situation.
Group 4 – 3 individuals
One girl is very upset because of a family situation, the leader notices (or is told) and talks to
her.