Any advice would be gratefully received!

[collissimon]

Hi,

I know this isn't directly camp related, but you are the kind of people who would be able to help me out!

I'm on the committee for STAR at my university. STAR stands for STudent Action for Refugees. As part of this, myself and a friend inherited a youth project that was pretty much dead on it's feet. Since September, we have got us a new funding source, and (after blood, sweat and tears!) got ourselves a really nice youth centre (http://www.archway-leeds.org.uk/) to put it in. We've got ourselves some contacts in the Refugee community, and have, we hope enough 13-17 year olds to have a half decent group.

It starts on Saturday, anyone know any good activities?!?!?! :eek:

[speedx5xracer]

Depending on the facilities somei would go with some sports like soccer (football), dodge ball or Tee ball. Or some low skill art projects

[Melk]

I would do some name games first and then move on to other games of the sort.

[drink the wild air]

What do you hope to accomplish that first day? Is this just a get to know you and have fun activities? Is it a long-term group - if so what is the goal? Is it giving kids a place to go, have fun, a meeting/discussion place for people with similar backgrounds? Just wondering. I think its awesome and would totally like to hear more about it.

[collissimon]

Hi,

Thanks for your interest! It's going to hopefully be a longterm project, but I'm only going to be co-coordinating it till the end of March. By that time, I'd like the project to be stable enough for someone else to take it on and do all the things that I wanted to do this year!

I think in the first week, we're going to do some ice breakers, have a discussion about what they want to do, and then play table tennis and football, as well as access to the cyber suite. We're so lucky to have this place!

I don't know what I want to achieve in the first session, mainly because I don't know who, if anyone will turn up! We've advertised to local groups, schools but that doesnt mean we will get any prospective members!

I want to provide the kids with a meeting place, and a social support that they may not get elsewhere. Ideally (though it isn't going to happen!) I would like to do some identity work, and adjustment to their new environment, and if they choose to take on a new identity (eg. Somali-British etc.) I don't know if that will happen, as there isn't much time to achieve it, but if it's stable, I will be happy!

[drink the wild air]

That sounds real awesome. I hope that it all goes well. Since they most likely dont know each other and may be real nervous about coming I would start out with something unintimidating like a small name game. And then a game that lets them know that they share things in common with the others there. Most teens I know really like the game "I like people who" (i know its called different names by everyone). Where everybody sits on chairs in a circle and one person in the middle. The person in the middle says i like people who and then says something about themselves. Everyone with that thing has to get up and switch seats. Whoever is left standing is the next in the middle. And so forth. I have noticed that after playing that game the kids usually have something to talk about with others. Like oh you have read that book too, or hey my favorite color is plaid also. OR anything with candy/snacks. Teens love that. I sometimes do the get-to-know-you game with starburst or m&ms where they take as many as they want and then you tell them they have to say something about themselves for each piece. And each color is coded like red=family, blue=hobbies, etc.

Hopefully after that point you can get a feel if they would like to keep playing games and get a bit rowdier or if they would like to hang out and get to know each other with maybe some music playing. I would just have a good stockpile of things ready cause you never know what kinda kids you will get.

I just know that coming into a situation like that for a teen can be extremely intimidating, especially if it deals with what could be a sensitive experience like being a refugee. I led a day of activites for teens who were victims of violence in their schools and those types of mellow, intro games really helped them to open up later on cause they were then comfortable and not scared. But then again all are different and its all about reading them.

I would also definitely let them decide where they want the group to go, like I think you mentioned. Find out what needs they have that arent being met by the community or family. Anyways, keep it up and good luck! Keep asking questions if needed for sure!!!

[collissimon]

Thanks very much! I hope it goes well too. Thanks for the advice, it's been really helpful. It's been a lot of work in terms of backstage stuff, like risk assessments, publicity, funding etc. I hope it all comes together before the handover date!

[CAMPFRIEND]

Collissimon, It sounds like you are going to have a great time! I can't wait to hear how it went.

[collissimon]

Hey,

To update ye all, the Project ran this morning. We had five voluteers, and one member. It's obviously not the most auspicious of starts! It was quite nice, because me and my friend (who is co-coordinating it with me) were v.v. scared!

The guy was very nice, and we played some board games, because you can't really do ice breakers with one member! He's going to bring some friends along next week, and we're going to talk to Social Services, so they can tell the people on their books about it too.

[CAMPFRIEND]

It's great to see that you had a good time!! Keep it up and I am sure it will get better and better.