Report

Tool: Dos and don’ts for setting group rules

Including sample rules for new circles

Do

Remind adolescents to develop rules that ensure that all adolescents have a chance to participate and benefit equally from activities; Remind them to consider identity issues such as ethnicity, gender, religion and language
Encourage adolescents to discuss how they will welcome new members to the Circle
Prompt adolescents to consider how some actions or practices could make their Circles less welcoming to some adolescents than others – For example, opening a session with a prayer or recitation from one religious faith may make adolescents from other religions, or those who do not practice a religion, feel less welcome; and -playing a physical game without adaptation might make adolescents with a mobility related disability feel less welcome.

Agree to a rule that will allow adolescents to insult, dominate or bully anyone, or exclude other adolescents (including members of the Circle and others who want to join).

Try to come on time and stay for the whole session
Try to pay attention and participate in activities
Help anyone who arrives late to participate
Speak one at a time, and listen actively when someone else is speaking
Use body language and words to show kindness and respect, especially when someone is sharing ideas, a project, a performance, or anything else
Encourage each other to try new things, especially things we aren’t good at yet
Talk and do activities with everyone in the circle, even people we don’t know or who are different from us
Have the right not to speak or not to do something if we don’t want to
Talk with the circle (if we feel comfortable) or the facilitator (if we need more support) if there is something that we don’t like about our time in the circle, and try to think of ways to make it better

Interrupt or distract each other from the activities
Interrupt someone who is speaking, or keep others from speaking by talking too long
Use body language or words that are insulting, disrespectful or mean, especially when someone is sharing ideas, something they made, or a performance
Discourage each other from trying something new or practicing something they aren’t good at yet
Refuse to work with someone else in our circle or act as if we don’t want to work with them

Come to every session if possible – When we can’t come to a session we let others in the circle know why we aren’t there, and that they can still work on activities and projects without us. Try to pay attention and participate in activities
Participate actively and positively in our activities and projects
Share our ideas and opinions openly and respectfully
Support and encourage others to share their ideas openly and respectfully
Are willing to work on different kinds of projects and activities, including things that are not our own idea and/or tasks that we don’t like – We take turns with different types of roles and tasks
Speak and behave in ways that are kind, respectful and encouraging to everyone in the circle
Work together and try to find a solution if we disagree or have different ideas
Speak with each other if something is bothering us, and try to find a solution – If we are not comfortable speaking with the whole group, we talk with the facilitator in private
Keep private or personal things about other circle members confidential, especially if they or the facilitator asks us to
Plan, work together and choose project ideas in a fair and equal way that reflects and includes everyone’s ideas

Speak or behave in a way that is unkind, disrespectful, discouraging or unwelcoming to anyone
Share anything we learn or hear about another circle member with other people outside the circle if it is private or personal, especially if they or the facilitator asks us to respect their confidentiality
Keep silent about our feelings if there is something happening in our circle that we do not like or agree with

Dos and don'ts and sample rules for new circles.

Publication date

July 2025

Languages

English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Persian