Toolbox — For Training and Youth Work
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The Percolator – A Model for Intercultural Dialogue
An original model and experiential learning tool for intercultural dialogue, using coffee percolation to explore productive ambiguity, curiosity, courage, reflection and the emergence of a relational WE.
Aims of the tool
To help participants understand intercultural dialogue as a dynamic, relational and transformative process rather than as an encounter between fixed cultural categories. The tool aims to develop awareness of assumptions, tolerance of productive ambiguity, curiosity, courage, reflection and the capacity to remain in meaningful relationship with difference. It also introduces the concept of an Emergent WE: a shared relational space that can arise without requiring individual identities to disappear.
Description of the tool
The Percolator is an original conceptual model and experiential learning tool for exploring intercultural dialogue as a dynamic, relational and iterative process.
It starts from the premise that people should not be reduced to fixed cultural categories. Each person is approached as a unique and continuously evolving culture, shaped by multiple identities, experiences, relationships, values, memories and perspectives.
Using the physical process of coffee percolation as a metaphor, the model explores how an encounter with difference may create a prediction mismatch and open a space of Productive Ambiguity — a “learning edge” where existing understanding is no longer sufficient.
Within a Brave Relational Space, participants are encouraged to remain with uncertainty rather than resolve it immediately through assumptions, labels or judgement. Curiosity draws them towards what they do not yet understand; courage enables them to move towards it despite vulnerability and uncertainty. Reflection and integration can then lead to transformed understanding and to the emergence of a relational “WE” that does not require individual “MEs” to disappear.
The model can be used as a framework for reflection, discussion and experiential intercultural learning. Its pedagogical foundations include non-formal education, experiential learning, intercultural citizenship education, tolerance of ambiguity, courageous curiosity and reflective dialogue.
The Percolator was first publicly piloted in February 2025 and has since been further developed and documented as an original methodology by Aspasia Protogerou.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23648312
Available downloads:
Disclaimer
SALTO cannot be held responsible for the inappropriate use of these training tools. Always adapt training tools to your aims, context, target group and to your own skills! These tools have been used in a variety of formats and situations. Please notify SALTO should you know about the origin of or copyright on this tool.
Tool overview
http://toolbox.salto-youth.net/6114
This tool is for
Youth workers, trainers, facilitators, educators, intercultural learning practitioners, youth leaders, civil society organisations, community groups and young people aged 16+. The model can also be adapted for adult learning, professional teams and groups working on citizenship, identity, dialogue, inclusion and participation.
and addresses
Group Dynamics, Intercultural Learning, Personal Development, European Citizenship, Youth Participation
It is recommended for use in:
Youth Exchanges
Training and Networking
Behind the tool
The tool was created by
Aspasia Protogerou
in the context of
Human to Human GROWTH – original methodology for intercultural citizenship education and non-formal experiential learning.
The tool has been experimented in
Human to Human GROWTH – original methodology for intercultural citizenship education and non-formal experiential learning.
The tool was published to the Toolbox by
Aspasia Protogerou (on 2 November 2026)
and last modified
25 October 2026
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