[didi] First day with our new team!
Today was certainly among the most rewarding and inspiring days of my Global Kids career. Today was the introductory workshop for our next round of DIDI Venturers. I believe that all young people deserve to have an opportunity like the one we are providing with D.I.D.I. in TSL, but perhaps this group is unique. As Kelly Eye4You introduced in her blog entry here we have partnered to bring D.I.D.I. to a small group of 16-17 year old males at a US juvenile detention center.
Over the last couple weeks the young men have had a few opportunities with Kelly to get acclimated to the SL environment. We finally got to meet two enthusiastic young men today. We spent this first special hour getting to know each other, going over the typical outline of our D.I.D.I. workshops, and learning the GK Guidelines (One Mic, Safe Space and Participation!)
Barry GKid and Chilly GKTeen as we discuss the 3 Guidelines
We played some of the same warm-up activities that experienced DIDI’ers will find familiar, like “Have you Ever?”.
I also took our new friends on a tour of the D.I.D.I. Island which reminded me of the tours kids go on when they visit a college campus :)
The guys were enthusiastic and inquisitive. The hour flew by, and we didn’t get as far into things as I’d hoped, but I think this was a fantastic beginning! I couldn’t be happier with the level of responsiveness and interaction from these young men. I know this is going to be a great experience for D.I.D.I. and I pray that these young men learn that they are able to make a positive change for themselves, and their communities!
Here’s an excerpt from our closing today:
Meghan GKid: Let's make a circle out here
Meghan GKid: Ok, so to close today let's all go around and just say ONE WORD that describes how you are feeling now.
Meghan GKid: Ok, I can go first, and we'll go around
Meghan GKid: I'm feeling ... impressed
Meghan GKid: I'll pass it to Chilly
Chilly GKteen: I feel great and it’s really cool
Sally YouthVenture: engaged!
Saryn Eye4You: relieved :) (about the tech)
Monica Maddaloni: relaxed
Amira GKid: I'm feeling really excited!!
Breezy GKteen: breezy
Meghan GKid smiles
Meghan GKid: Thanks guys!
Meghan GKid: I can't wait for next time!
Chilly GKteen: nice to meet everyone once again and i hope to see everybody next time
And a side note to show there's always room for a good sense of humor....
Amira GKid: Just curious...How did you guys choose the names Chilly and Breezy?
Breezy GKteen: we're just so cool
