By Sidris
Friday morning, goshhh…feeling really exhausted. The last day today. It has been a very intense but inspiring week. It was a privilege to be surrounded by all those wonderful people in Labenbachhof, Rupholding. So…let’s get up and start. I heard that there was even a yoga session by Helga. For the first time this week I walked into the dining room as one of the first. Only Mike sat there, very relaxed enjoying his breakfast. Mike is the best first person to run into in the morning. His jolly and enthusiastic attitude is contagious. As always breakfast was wonderful, the fresh bread….hm hm hm Slowly the group walked in one by one and there is always, always something to talk about.
After breakfast everybody went on their way up to our hall and it was time to get to work. The facilitators for today were Katrin and Iman. To wake up and get energized after breakfast we did the wrestling exercise led by Niko. Pushing one another in a way not to run someone over but to find the balance between the two participants. It was a great way to wake up the body and mind. To turn our concentration switch on Lorraine took us to the next level of the rhythm exercise from yesterday. Steppin’, clappin’ and singing go back and forth not to forget the fun and laughter within this moment.
After this it was time to start working on the intellectual outputs. Writing down exercises, writing on the Thursday blog and some worked on the book. Rob, Akila and Helga were walking around to help where needed.
Mike enlightened the group with an excellent workshop ‘the Art of Facilitation’. It was really distinct and educational to learn about the differences between being a trainer and a facilitator.
Rob’s exercise The Cover Story was exiting. It was wonderful to see al the dreams and plans made for the future. The different ideas but basically all with the same outcome. The very reason we where all there to take part in this project of ‘Can do Empowerment’: with each other, world wide, making this world a better place for everyone to live in.
Inspiring were the compliments rounds ‘Why am I great’ (Loraine) for those who wanted to take part and writing an empowering postcard to one selves (Katrin). Personally I can’t wait to receive it in the mail.
Then the remaining administrative tasks, week evaluation on paper, reflecting round with the imaginary match burning, a group/team and individual photographs.
Closure of the week with a nonverbal communication exercise where one participant leaves the room. The others decide about one or more tasks for the volunteer to do. When the person comes back in the room the group has to guide the volunteer without speaking or facial expressions trough the task(s), by clapping hands loud and fast or slow and soft or even silence. Niko and Sidris volunteered. Niko had to pick up the pen and give it to Helga, Sidris had to pick up the pen, pick up the paper, write down chocolate, pick up the chocolate, walk out of the circle and around it.
So far the daily program. This Friday night an acquaintance named Yusuf and partner came in to perform improvisational theatre about reflection, hard work at the office, Rob’s homecoming after this week and a human puppet show.
And finally….like I said before, it was an inspiring but very intense week, there happened a lot, we did a lot, we said a lot, we felt a lot, we learned a lot.
So we closed off with a master blaster party where we danced like it was 1999!