FAQ

Implementation

• What kind of facility/space is needed to implement ML in the full version?

Ideally, you need several rooms to simulate different locations and a total area of more than 200m². At minimum, you need two big (50-80m²+) separate rooms to prepare the migrant characters and the station staff. If possible the Immigration Office should have its own room with a waiting area. Stations should be close enough that it takes not more than 5 minutes to walk between them to keep the interaction moving. Only the embassy should be located outside of the main playground to simulate a journey and and “entering” of a new country. If you have a longer playtime and a big location you can also extend the playground so that the participants e.g. Have to make a real “journey” for exampling through a garden or some floors between the embassy and the rest of the playground.

• Do I need costumes for the implementation?

Yes. Using clothes, tools, and props is recommended to help participants get into their roles. A list of needed materials is provided in the handbook’s attachment 6.2.

Sometimes small things can already have their effect (like sunglasses, caps or a wig.

• Do I need an experienced awareness and safety-team for the implementation?

You do not necessarily need a separate external team, but you must assign one facilitator as a confidential counsellor to handle emotional situations. You should also provide a “safety-zone” and a “safe word” for participants who feel overwhelmed. The team should make themselves familiar with some basic awareness concepts and ideas. On the website of our previous partnership-project “If I were in your shoes”  you can find for example a safety-checklist.

Planning

• How log do I need to plan an ML implementation?

You should plan well in advance to print and organize the many documents required. Depending on your experience one day can be enough, but when you do it the first time your should plan 2 days with two people and additional time if the trainers have to get familiar with the debriefing methods. Also you need some basic data of your participants to make a clever role-distribution of the character. Such a distribution often takes 2-3 hours. On the day of the event, you need at least 2 hours for preparation of the site itself.

• Can I implement ML in one big hall?

While possible, it is not recommended. The game works best when stations are in different rooms or separated spaces to represent the difficulty of finding your way in a new country. If you make it in a big hall you need elements to separate the different areas (e.g. folding walls).

• How many trainers/facilitators are needed?

Complex version: Requires a team of at least 3 to 5 people (facilitators and helpers)

Less Complex version : Can be done with 3 people, but still requires at least two experienced facilitators.

• Is it possible to implement ML with a facilitators team mixed of trained ones and inexperienced ones?

Yes, it is possible. However, facilitators should have a moderate level of experience in non-formal education. It is strongly advised that all facilitators play the game themselves as participants before leading or co-leading it.

• Can I implement ML within a school-class day (about 6 hours)?

Yes. A standard implementation takes about 8 hours total (2h preparation, 3h play, 2h debriefing, 1h evaluation). You can fit it into 6 hours by using the “Less Complex” version (2h play time) and shortening the preparation or cancel the debriefing and make it in other formats. But be aware that keeping this timeline on track is difficult and trainers should have experience with it.

• How long will the facilitators need to prepare the materials?

This is time consuming because of the large number of documents (passports, forms, permits, instructions). Facilitators must prepare these “well in advance” using the document lists in the handbook. If you have to prepare and print everything from scratch and do it the first time you need at least two days for preparation of the complex edition.

Finances

• What financial resources are needed?

The main returning cost is printing and copying. You will need a lot of paper and toner. You can save money by printing most documents in black and white instead of colour. But for your first implementation time you also need additional resources for your sorting systems, to buy props (e.g. for the police, the judge, the bureaucrats) and clothes or items. It depends heavily what your organisation already has in stock and how clever you get it (e.g. Second hand, lend it from a theatre groups …).

If you don’t implement it with your own staff you should also plan honorary fees. From our experience 3000€-4000€ of honorary fees are a normal estimation for a two day implementation.

• What might be a reasonable financial compensation when I offer an implementation for external clients/partners?

This depends on your local organisation’s rates but can be between 2500 euro and 4500 euro depending on the duration, the number of staff you need etc.

• How can I get financial support from the Erasmus+ program to implement ML?

Minosia Labyrinth was originally funded by an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership. You can apply for Erasmus+ funding through your national agency to run educational projects that use this tool. Here you should use the framework for mobilities (KA1). In the Erasmus+ programme you have the opportunity to use the method in a format of a “youth exchange” as well as in the mobility for youth workers. Here you have the option to apply for a single project twice in a year and for an so called “accreditation” annually at national programme agency. You can find more informations here: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

In case you want to apply the method with adult learners or in the VET-sector you can also apply for Erasmus+ funding, but it works in a different way. Here the sending organisations of your learners will have to apply for funding. Check on the site for “Opportunities for organisations” -> “Learning mobilities for individuals”

Participants groups

• How about implementing ML with a group of refugees?

It is not recommended. You can do that, but be careful. In case of mixed groups our suggestion is to giving people with actual migration experience “stronger” roles (like station staff) to avoid making them relive bad experiences in a low-power role. When you have all participants with refugees background it can be difficult and also this game is made for the EU citizen mostly with participations of migrants,refugees as empowerment aspect. You need to have a very clear learning objective to make a good decision here. Generally the aim of the game is NOT to teach migrants how they can make integration better. So this method is not useful for integration purpose. It is more to reflect about the structures of the European society and administrative system as well as the behaviour and socialisation that Europeans have regarding that issues.

• Can I implement ML also in a school/with a school-class?

Yes. The Less Complex edition is specifically designed for younger groups or those with less knowledge of the topic. But the minimum age should be about 14 years.

• Which restrictions does a implementation have concerning participants with barriers/disabilities?

For physical disabilities, you must ensure the rooms used for stations are accessible. Right now we don’t have a version available to use with blind learners. We are thinking about it…

Trainers/Facilitators

• Which special capabilities/skills should the facilitators have?

Beside knowing the basic structures of the method as they are described in the handbook the facilitators need basic knowledge of migration, integration, and racism. They must be able to lead a “debriefing” (reflection session) and handle strong emotions. It is very useful that facilitators attend a special training unit. From time to time solar e.V. Is offering such training project. Just get in contact with us!

• How about the personal background (positions in society) of the facilitators?

A diverse team is helpful. The consortium that developed the game included people from many different European backgrounds and professional social services. Ideally you should have different gender, cultural background and migration-experience represented in the facilitators team.