Fr. John Class- Games

Materials 2

Come along go home

Aim: To help the participants to understand the importance of choosing right leaders and become a good leader.

Requirements: chairs for each participant

Procedure: The participants sit in a circle on chairs (There should be no empty chairs). The Animator or one volunteer instructed well by the animator runs inside the circle in front of the participants. As he runs around, he touches the head of some of the participants at random saying, “Come along” and continue to run. They follow him and run in a line behind him.  The volunteer may touch and call around 8 to 10 participants and then he may suddenly announce, “Go home.” After saying this he occupies one of the empty chairs. The rest of the participants too run and try to occupy a chair but one will be left and he continues the game in the same manner.  After a few rounds the Animator stops the game.

Questions for reflection

·        Who are these leaders calling you and what does their call imply to you?

·        Where are these people who are trying to get you to various things? Do they stand with you when you are in need or they ignore you and are busy with their selfish motives?

·        Do you distinguish between the good leaders and the bad leaders who are calling you? How do you distinguish?

·        Do you blindly follow the leader when you are called or do you try to find the reasons for being called? Do you discern well before you accept or reject the call?

·        Are you willing to forgo your ‘comfort zone’ and ‘security zone’ and join good initiatives when called or are you hesitant?

·        Do you think all those who call you share your interests and care for the cause of the people?

·        Do you think your individuality is respected by the leaders who call you? Do you get sufficient space to voice your concerns and contribute your ideas and expertise?

·        In real life situation, are the leaders who invite you to join in their concerns, primarily concerned about their personal benefit or are they true leaders who are interested in the well-being of the people who trust in them?

·        How do you rate yourself as a leader? Do you look for positions and your benefits?  Or do you want to be at the service of the people?

It is very important to understand the dynamics of leadership. We need to join hands with good ventures and programmes. But before taking them up, think well, discern seriously, and make an appropriate choice. Before joining any ventures you need to keep three things in mind:

·        Ensure the growth of you as a person and a leader.

·        Ensure the growth of the people with whom you are working as persons and leaders.

·        Ensure the growth and empowerment  of the people for whom you are working.

Bookmarks Speak

Aim

To help the participants to be inspired by some messages, which may transform their life.

Procedure

Keep a number of sayings/quotations or bookmarks. Soft music is played and let people go around and read the content of each bookmark.  After the first round the Animator asks the participants to note down on their exercise books one of the quotes that touches them most.

Questions for personal reflection

·        Why did you pick up this particular bookmark? What aspect of it touched you? What message it has for you?

·        What dimensions of your life does it reveal to you? Does it say anything about your dreams/aspirations of life?

·        How are you going to make use of this quotation and do something about it?

·        Do you take any resolution after coming across this quotation?

·        Does this quotation challenge you in anyway and call to reform?

·        Someone has left this message for you. What message do you want to leave for others?

Sinking Ship

Learning outcome

·       Learn to listen attentively.

·       Learn to work with others who are not familiar to us.

·       Learn to take failures as they come and learn from them.

·       Cultivate sportsman spirit – learn to enjoy a game. Similarly, take the events of life as they come.

·       Friendship does not mean we need to be together at all time and everywhere.  We need to learn that true friendship is beyond being together always. We need to cultivate friendship that allows the friends to move around and be free to be what they are.

·       We need to be open to new friendship and common programmes.  we need to join concerns that interest us

·       Learn to search for available opportunities and possibilities. Do not wait for things to happen but to go and reach for the opportunities.

·       We learn the importance of sacrifice. Some friends left the group to give chance to others. It is very important to learn to discover the joy of sacrifice.

·       We need to respect the space and opportunity of others. Do not pull someone out to create an opportunity for you or your friends. Do not break an already existing group to find space for you.  It is important to learn to think about others as well.

·        Learn to take initiative to achieve your goal. Do not wait for others to approach you. It may be too late if you let things to happen.

·       By joining in common ventures you may come across some fine people who may become great friends later.

·       Keep your goal clear and work hard to achieve it. In the process you may fail at times. But remember, a full stop does not show the end of one sentence, but beginning of another.

·       There is also a lot of interaction taking place in this game.  Learn to interact with as many people as possible.  Interaction with others will help you to widen your mind and will help you to open your heart.

Passing the Packet

Aim

To make the participants realize the gifts they are and they have.

·       There is a surprise gift inside, a gift to be shared with others.  Similarly in each one of us there is a treasure, a gift to be discovered and joyfully shared with others.

·       When we go deep into ourselves, we will discover our true self.

·       As we unwrap layer by layer, we come to know different dimensions of our life.

·       Our interaction with people may or may not be the best. But they all help us to discover various aspects of our life. In deeper reflection we will find that even the negative experiences render us tips as to how to cope with challenging situations.

·       Being passed around represent with people as we discover ourselves.  We need to appreciate, acknowledge, value the contribution they make in our life.