Exposure – Reflection – Dialogue

Exposure and Dialogue Programmes are designed on the background of a need for action formulated by cooperation partners or other impulse-providers from the arena of politics, business, the Churches (faith-based-organisations) and civil society. The three methodical steps Exposure – Reflection – Dialogue enable the actors involved to experience a change of perspective based on deeper insights and (new) experiences - motivating them to a change of action in one's personal life and professional competence.

Exposure – immerse in the life of the hosts and deal hands-on with the reality of their lives.

Reflection – share these (new) experiences made in personal meetings with the hosts, understand and classify them.

Dialogue – discuss technical issues with invited experts and representatives of institutions to widen individual insights and perceptions of the reality of life of the people on site; thus, deepen, amend, and when necessary, correct one's perceptions.

These are the three core elements of a learning process the method of which was developed together with recognised self-help organisations and partners in the Global South - to be adjusted and supplemented depending on the subject area and individual situations at hand.

Exposure und Dialog® is a method of intercultural learning by experience that is targeted at mutual understanding. Everyone contributes to the result of this learning process:
the participants (guests), the hosts, the local supporters, the dialogue partners and the organisers.

EDP e.V., with its partners, designs the method framework on site and is responsible for the learning process.

For this process to be successful, all parties must be willing to actively contribute according to the subject to maintain an attitude of respectful willingness to learn. The role of the participating guests and partners involved includes contributing subjects and contents and defining them, specifically in the final dialogue workshop.

In this process, a specific inner attitude of the parties is helpful:

• Attention and respect towards the people in the host country - towards the host families, their social environment and the dialogue partners and co-organisers (partner organisations) in the programme on site

• Valuing the efforts of the other programme participants, the hosts and the dialogue partners

• Dialogue on eye level with the participating guests and all actors on site, national as well as international ones

• Contributing own experiences and knowledge in a culture-sensitive manner