Activity goal: Invite participants to reflect on their ways of communicating, what they value in communicating with others, and how they feel when they communicate. Through the drawing of a personal planet, they will be able to identify their communication strengths, limits and needs to improve coexistence and group work.

Preparation & start of the activity: Explain that everyone has a unique way of communicating and that sometimes differences can lead to misunderstandings. This activity invites them to imagine they live on their own “planet,” where communication rules align with their preferences and values.

Here is an example for an introduction: “Imagine that each of you has your own planet where you communicate in the way that feels most comfortable to you. On this planet are the things you value in a conversation, what bothers you, the ways you like to express yourself, and how you like to be listened to.”

Implementation: Give each person a blank sheet of paper and drawing materials (markers, coloured pencils, crayons, etc.).

Ask them to draw their “Communication Planet,” representing, for example:

• Preferred languages or modes: (verbal, gestural, visual, artistic…)
• Ways of listening and being listened to
• Planet rules: What is allowed? What is avoided?
• Symbolic elements: walls if they have difficulty expressing themselves, bridges if they connect easily, radars if they’re good at picking up others’ emotions…
• Key places: listening zones, spaces for silence, corners for speaking without interruptions…

The drawing doesn’t need to be “beautiful” or detailed, but it should represent how they feel about communication.

To help them on the way here are some questions you can use:

• How do you prefer to communicate with others?
• Is there something you don’t like when talking to someone?
• What do you need to feel listened to?
• What do you do when you see someone is not feeling understood?
• What rules would exist on your planet to avoid conflicts?

Wrap up/ Debrief: Invite anyone who wants to share their planet with the group. Some ways to do this:

• Show the drawing and explain what it represents.
• Create a “gallery” display (everyone hangs up their planets and walks around to view them).
• In pairs: describe the planet to a partner.

To help them on the way here are some questions you can ask the following question: “What did you discover about your way of communicating while making the drawing?”

The reflection can also be done on individual level, in this case you ask each participant to write or say a sentence that summarizes what they discovered about themselves, for example:

• “I’ve realized I need more time to express my ideas.”
• “I really value not being interrupted when I speak.”
• “I want to try listening more without judging.”

Materials:

• Blank A4 sheets or cardstock,
• Coloured pencils, crayons, markers.
• Tape or pushpins to display the drawings (optional)