To act as a team and to support each other is probably one of the toughest things to learn for our open school kids. The quote:
the team is only as good as its weakest team member
is very hard for them to put into practice.
Since January 2019 the five kids – Asha, Arun, Anil, Brajendra and Ajeet – are living and studying together in Noida. They all share one apartment. Prakriti School, where they study, is just a one minute walk away.
Their “teamlife” is challenging and it is hindering them to unfold their full potential. To harness so to speak their “collective intelligence” is a process we will focus on more in the coming months. It’s these questions and actions which are separating instead of uniting them :
- who does the cooking ?
- who does the dishes?
- who does the cleaning?
- who makes the rules?
- who is supporting whom and why?
- who is responsible?
- blaming over supporting
- talking over getting things done
- how to enter a commitment
- ME over WE
How to get this
![](https://rural-changemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/we_mag._logo_60x60pix.jpg)
right, was the topic of a long discussion we had with the kids. And it was a starting point for a “deeper look”.
We invited them in a circle session to
- point out the positive sides of each other
- think about how important it is to communicate and how to communicate in a transparent way
- think what it means when they say to someone “I will do!” and then don’t deliver (commitment)
- think what each single one can do to improve the team
- learn how to set up rules
- think about how teamwork helps to get things done
It was a kick off event. In two weeks we have a one week workshop back home in Janwaar where we’ll dig deeper into this.
I was very lucky to have Rina Singh with me, a very distinguished children book author, now living in Canada, who unexpectedly conducted this circle session with the kids.
![](https://rural-changemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/rina_noida-1-1024x616.jpg)
Rina is also working with some of the kids in remote English sessions. Just like Nicola we are blessed to have such experienced educators in our team! A HUGE thank you for your efforts to both of you!