This activity helps students and adults understand the difference between charity (responsible for others) and service (responsible to others). Use in conjunction with class discussions and activities examining the difference between charity and empowerment.
| When I feel . . . | |||||
| Responsible for others | Responsible to others | ||||
| I am . . . | - a counselor | I am . . . | a mentor | ||
| - a psychologist | a guide | ||||
| I . . . | - fix | I . . . | - encourage | ||
| - rescue | - share | ||||
| - control | - am sensitive | ||||
| - speak for people | - listen | ||||
| - manipulate | - "plant seeds" | ||||
| - am open and flexible | |||||
| I feel . . . | - tired | I feel . . . | - relaxed | ||
| - anxious | - free | ||||
| - fearful | - high self-esteem | ||||
| - responsible | - aware | ||||
| I am concerned with | - the solution | I am concerned with | - the person | ||
| - answers | - feelings | ||||
| - being right | - relating person-to-person | ||||
| - performance | - empathizing with their struggles | ||||
| - I expect the person to live up to my expectations. | - I expect the person to be responsible for their own actions and set their own goals. | ||||
| - I want to be in control. | - I can trust and let go. | ||||
Adapted with permission from the University of Minnesota's service-learning guide (PDF).