JIA Voluntary Action Day

Date: 9/12/2006
Venue: Theodor Schneler School

Six members of Jordan Interfaith Action Group and two Members of Jadara Interfaith Action Group, held a voluntary action day at Theodor Schneler School. The activities of the day included games aiming at enhancing the communication and team work skills of the children attending the school. The target group was 42 students aged 11-13, the students come from different geographical locations in Jordan, they also represent various ethnic backgrounds.

The day started with an introduction to JIA and JIA2 and their work in promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue, as well as to their vision of a better world to live in, where all mankind from all faiths can live together in peace and harmony.

That was followed by a ball game to break the ice between the students and the volunteers, where everyone was asked to stand in a circle and to toss a ball between them saying there name and the name of the person who gave them the ball. After which, a team building exercise was implemented as the group was divided into four groups of 10 (one group was made of 12), and then each of the small groups was divided into two smaller groups, the idea behind the exercise called "Giants, Magicians, and Elves", is for each of the smaller groups to choose what of the three creatures they want to be, and then attack the other group. Members of the smaller groups were expected to talk to each and decide on their method of attack, this is to improve their team work efforts and communications abilities to each others.

The exercise was followed by discussion circles in each big group on the importance of working together as a team, and when we do that we should talk and communicate our ideas with other group members.

The next activity was also on team work and communications skills, but also included some planning, as the students were asked to stand in a circle and toss five orange balls to each others at the same time, after a while a blue ball was thrown with the orange balls, and the students were asked not to let the blue ball fall on the ground. This exercise was held as a competition between the four big groups, followed by a general discussion on team working and planning actions to achieve the goals.

The third, and final, activity of the day, evolved on stimulating the creativity of the young participants. The groups were asked to set together and discuss what they like about the holidays, Eid Al-Adha and Christmas, and then to write a short story about what they usually do during the holidays.

Reported by:
Waleed Alzyoud JIA President
Nabeel basher JIA2