Experiential Exercise Helping Each Other and Finding Out We Aren't That Different.

Break into teams of four or five while trying to maximize internal diversity. Student take turns sharing with the others a problem that they are currently facing in their lives. Any problem can be presented; the only requirement is that the problem should be meaningful and important for the presenter. It can be a problem that students are facing at school, at work, in their sports or leisure activities, or in their personal life. Sample problems are: How can I find an internship? How can I improve my language abilities? Where could I travel for the weekend? And so forth. After each request is shared, all the other team members are asked to use their intellect, experience, network, or skills to figure out if they can help resolve the problem. Each problem must be discussed for a maximum of $7$ minutes, and the presenter is invited to write down the advice received. After all the students' problems are discussed, team members are invited to discuss if and to what extent they are facing, or have faced in the past, problems similar to those of their classmates, regardless of their country of origin or educational background. The following questions can help in the team discussion:

$2-7.$ Do you think that sharing personal problems and helping one another can create a positive climate that favors inclusion and appreciation of each other? What does this exercise teach you about how to manage diversity at work?

$2-8.$ How could this experience be replicated in the workplace for discussing organization$-$ related problems faced by people from different departments? Would you consider establishing a weekly meeting based on this exercise? Discuss the reasons for and reasons against establishing such a ritual.