Step 4. Meet, sit and talk together, recognize a need, take inventory and make a plan of action . . .

	Child breaking rocks in stone quarry, India Photo: © Crozet M. - ILO

A. Meet, sit and talk together
Once you have organized a group, it's time to get everyone together to share research findings, identify a need, take inventory, and develop a plan of action. First, give everyone a chance to introduce themselves and tell how they became part of the group. Take a few minutes to formulate some initial shared expectations and commitments that will help everyone understand what to expect from the group and how to contribute to a meaningful experience. You might agree on expectations such as:

1. Giving priority to the group meeting (calling if you are absent or late)
2. Creating an environment where all members can be heard
3. Respecting what is shared in the group and immediately resolving any issues
4. Inviting friends who might be interested in getting involved and warmly welcoming visitors
5. Starting and ending time, etc.
6. Frequency of meetings: how often, when and where to meet (For instance, in school or after school, etc.)

Before meeting, plan an agenda, including the purpose and objectives of the meeting, topics of discussion, etc. You might e-mail everyone a reminder of the venue, date and time of the meeting.

At the meeting, it is important that everyone understand and agree on the main issue, to which you will respond.

B. Recognize a need
WHAT need(s) do working children have in the world, in a particular country, including the United States, or even in your own community? Explore opportunities for meeting a need, or contributing to an existing project. For instance, if a student club in Quincy, Massachusetts is planning a nation-wide Child Labor Free Shopping Trip to the Mall the day after Thanksgiving then what role might your group play in that project? Otherwise, brainstorm local project ideas. What will be your project?

C. Take inventory
What talents, abilities, experiences, and resources does your group have to help meet the need you have selected? Be aware of what you have, and do not have.

D. Get organized by developing an action plan
Decide HOW you will take action on your issue. Start discussing a project that your group can do together to meet a need, such as raising awareness of a global child labor issue in your community.

When designing your plan of action, try to answer the following questions:

1. What are the immediate goals of our group?
2. What do we intend to achieve in the long run?
   Set lots of small goals and one big goal. Think big! Set a goal that requires the group to rely on more than just its own resources. The goal must be bigger than the group's resources. Is your project ambitious enough to challenge the group?
   Smaller goals, such as events, provide more opportunities to succeed and celebrate achievements. They bring you closer to achieving your larger goal. Big goals remind the group of the greater issue and reaffirm your commitment to realizing the main goal. Some examples,
   Small goal: Organize a local physical march to raise community awareness of child labor
   Big goal: Eliminate the worst forms of child labor worldwide
   
3. What steps will we take to achieve our goals? Brainstorm ways your group will take action so that all your goals will be realized. Break down big jobs into smaller tasks. Identify WHAT tasks you need to accomplish. Make an Action List of everything that needs to get done.
4. How long will it take to achieve each step/task, both large and small? WHEN do you want to complete each task? Note important events on a calendar. Create a timeline and/or chart to keep track of each task/event, date, location, person responsible, etc. Complete this at your first or second meeting. Its very helpful to keep your notes in a special notebook or day-planner.
5. Whose permission (principal, teacher) do we need to formally start this group at our school, community or place of worship?
6. Who will support or resist us?
7. What are each of our strengths?
8. Who will do each task? Divide up the responsibilities. Effective groups share responsibilities and group ownership. Shared ownership ensures that the responsibility does not fall on one person.
9. What do we want to call our group?
10. What resources - human, financial, in kind, materials - do we needed?

At each meeting, recruit a volunteer to record all goals, achievements, future plans and activities.