Don’t Ask Where I’m From, Ask Where I’m Local.

Aims of the tool

To open the debate on identity and related issues;
To provide participants an opportunity to reflect on own identity and its key elements;
To develop participants creative writing competencies and ability of expression.

Description of the tool

Open the activity by asking the participants a question: Where are you from? Participants should respond one by one. Write down their answers on the board, or ask someone to help you with that. Use those answers as inputs for further discussion. Then let them watch the TED Talk of Taiye Selasi. After the speech ask the participants to write a text that would answer to the question: Where are you local? The
participants can decide about the form. Texts are shared with a larger group and discussion on issues such as self-awareness, identity in connection with rituals, relationships and
restrictions defined by Taiye Selasi in the talk should follow.

Questions for reflection
– Where are you from and where are you local?
– Which question would you ask when you meet someone new?
– Do you feel a sense of belonging to the place where you live and the people around you?
– What helps us to develop sense of belonging to a place or group of people?
– Do you think that people can belong to more than one place?
– What do you most connect with? Why?
– How do you know you have connected with another person or group of people?