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I am Strong

Tug of war with the boys 
 We began our second session - this time talking about "strength" in the harsh heat
of the afternoon on Friday.
 
We started with a brilliant demonstration of strength. We bought 3 yards of rope and 
set up a tug-of-war. We started with two strong boys against each other, and then added 
more and more people but only on one side. The game made everyone laugh and led to lots 
of different teams: kids vs adults, girls vs boys etc.
 
Andy began the session by stating "on our own we may not be strong, but together as a 
team, we can be strong." this was a clear way to communicate a strong message of the 
importance of unity. 
 
Then we explained that being strong is not only about having big muscles. Strength can 
be on the inside as well as on the outside, and being strong means making good decisions. Andy used the example of two coke bottles. He took one and shook it very hard, then put another unshaken bottle next to it. He ask Brian, the smallest, youngest, shyest of the boys, to pick which bottle he wanted. Brian picked the unshaken bottle, and Andy ended up with coke all over him! 
 
The kids then spent the afternoon making a scrapbook of what they want to do in the 
future. They recorded their own personal strengths in the outline of their hands. 
 
In the heat of the afternoon, we all crowded under the grass roof in the cool and did
 craft together. This time instead of sewing, Le make tissue paper flowers with all 
the younger girls and  three older relatives who came to visit with their babies. 
We jumped at the chance to cuddle more babies and so gave the women a break. 
The boys (who initially refused) looked on from a far and eventually crept over and 

joined in. 
 
It was another beautiful day spent with beautiful people. 
 
 




 
Lisa helping Julius' Aunt make a tissue paper flower

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