Meet Your Inner Hero
Objectives:
- - Encourage creative self-expression and imagination by connecting with a personal inner hero.<br />
- - Identify qualities and strengths that support positive environmental and social change.<br />
- - Foster peer sharing and reflection to recognize shared values and inspire collective eco-conscious action.
Preparation: No preparation is needed.
Tools needed: Provide paper along with paints, markers, and colored pencils so participants can draw their heroes in detail.
Description
Part 1: Imagination Exercise
Begin with a guided imagination or visualization exercise. This can be done in any style that feels natural to you as the facilitator — the goal is to help participants enter a creative, reflective space and connect with their personal hero.
This hero can be anyone or anything, a fairy tale character, a Greek God or Goddess, a cartoon figure, an animal or a completely imaginary creature. It doesn't have to be human. The key is that this hero has special powers that can positively impact the world and help create a sustainable future.
The imagination exercise should last no more than 15 minutes.
Part 2: Drawing and Sharing
After the visualization, ask participants to draw their hero, trying to include as many details as possible — physical appearance, personality traits, strengths and any symbolic elements that stood out.
Next, form small groups of 4, where each person introduces their hero to the others.
You can suggest the following guiding questions:
- Who is your hero?
- Why did you choose this hero?
- What special traits or powers does your hero have?
- Does your hero have a name?
- How could this hero help create a more sustainable world for all?
Plenary Sharing
If the group is small (around 20 or fewer), participants often enjoy sharing their heroes with everyone in the plenary. If you choose to do this, allow time for each participant to briefly introduce their hero to the full group.
If the group is larger, you can still come together for a brief plenary discussion. Ask each small group to share just 2–3 common traits that their heroes have in common.
Reflection
This activity helps participants realize that these heroes — reflections of their own values and strengths — live within themselves. Each person has the potential to make meaningful changes and inspire others to live more eco-conscious, responsible lives.
Variations
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Resources
Ecofacilitators Guidebook, 2017
Comments
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