Total duration: 45 minutes

MATERIALS

Pictures, paper tape

For online implementation: Jamboard or similar tools can be used.

Objectives: The main objective of this activity is mothers to reflect that there are different ways to perceive motherhood in societies and to be aware whether they are influenced by some common idea.

Preparation: Before participants enter the room, stick on the wall different pictures representing mothers in various cultural and social contexts.

Invite participants to walk around the room and look at the pictures.

Invite participant to choose a picture (they can choose because they recognize themselves with that picture or not, or out of simple curiosity).

Ask each participant to share the reason why she chose the picture and facilitate an interaction within the group. For example, individual questions may be: why did you choose this picture? Did any specific element of the picture, if any, mean or hint at something to you? Group questions may be: What do you think are the reasons behind your choice? Are you aware of the reasons behind your choice? Why do you think some pictures have bigger impact on you? Are they in any way related to the way you live the mothering experience?

Hold a final debriefing to help them reflect about whether or not they realise that they adhere to a specific role of mother.

Give participants some space to express their personal view on what being a mother means.

The facilitator should first prepare a set of pictures representing mothers in different social and cultural contexts. He/she should then share all pictures at the same time with mothers participating in the online session.

The facilitator should then invite participants to choose one picture and ask each of them to share the reason that led them to make that choice.

The facilitator should hold a final debriefing to help the mothers reflect about whether or not they realise that they adhere to a specific role. He/she should also give participants some space to express their personal view on what being a mother means.

Total duration: 30 minutes

MATERIALS

No material needed. Music in the background may support the physical expression and movement.

Objectives: Support mothers to become more aware of their strengths and the challenges they face as mothers and women.

Preparation: Make sure you have an empty room where participants can move

Invite participants to stand in a circle together

Invite one by one to make a free gesture to present themselves

After each one does it, invite each participant to come up and create a second gesture that represents the strengths that she feels as a mother

Then, invite each participant to come up and create a gesture that best expresses the difficulties and challenges she experiences as a mother.

The instructions for online implementation are the same of those for face-to-face implementation, yet the facilitator should make sure that:

• each participant has some space to move and express the gesture with the whole body
• each participant is visible on the screen.

Total duration: 45 minutes

MATERIALS

No material needed. Music in the background may support the physical expression and movement.

Objectives: Helping mothers realizing there is not a perfect way to be a mother and find creative ways to solve difficult situations

Preparation: Make sure you have an empty room where participants can move.

Create small groups. Each group should choose some of the gestures that came out from the previous exercise and compose them together in a creative way, such as in a choreography.

Each group can show the choreography to the others.

Encourage a conversation about the process and the final results, about what the mothers shared and about the benefits and obstacles/difficulties of expressing the feelings with gestures and through the body.

If using an online platform such as Zoom, the participants should be divided up into “rooms” or smaller sessions. The facilitator can then use the same instructions of the face-to-face activity.