In this section you will find games that will address intercultural topics and themes that aim to enable the participants to become more consciously aware of other cultural beliefs and ways as well as possibly challenging their own cultural beliefs and ways.
What's in a name? More than we often realize.
This is an interesting, novel way for people to introduce themselves to others, especially in ethnically diverse groups.
Ensure that an appropriate group atmosphere is established in which people have already done some initial warm-up activities and name games.
Ask participants to turn to a partner and explain what your name means (if anything) and where it comes from.
Most people reveal a surprising amount of interesting information about where their name comes from and what it means.
The greater the ethnic and cultural diversity in the group, the better this exercise tends to work.
Can be specifically used to help build intercultural respect and understanding or to more generally help develop self-identity and open respect and sharing.
Optional: Ask each person to introduce his/her partner to the larger group and to explain what his/her name means and where it comes from.
Optional: The activity can be extended into revealing the background behind other names e.g. Nicknames, Parents, Alter-ego or "fantasy name", Names of children, Pets, etc.