We love a challenge!

Counterbalances, Acrobalance and Physical Theatre left us with dirty footprints on our backs, sweat drenched clothes and very very happy hearts. This week we challenged the kids with new concepts of working together and relying on each other for support. All the activities involved a lot of trust, risk and surrender, which the kids were all so eager to attempt. The kids not only explored the extension of the body, but also sensations of falling, being lifted, pushing body weight to stabilize new movements, walking over human bridges, moving through the air and working as a team to keep all members safe.


With a new and daring physical language, both groups were able to express scenery, movement, emotion, and magic to create the most wonderfully expressive image theatre on conflict, and also in the re-telling of folk stories. What I love the most is the kids pride after their performances, there are always comments about how they are becoming such good actors and that they are improving with every workshop. This really excites me, as the children are so willing to explore their physical expression as well as their emotional expression to really portray their truths. And all done in such a supportive and encouraging environment. It is incredible to see these kids strive to be stars, it says a lot about their nature and also of their futures if they are able to find suitable opportunities for growth.


We also had a very insightful week into the reality of the kids perspectives about working in Saigon. When asked what was your happiest memory? A few of the kids said "when I was in Saigon". This alerted my little antennaes to look further into the ideas and beliefs about what working in Saigon means for the kids and their families. We specifically talked with the children who haven't been to Saigon yet, but are at high risk of being trafficked. We needed to understand what their perspective was and most of the kids genuinely believe that even though it is difficult work, that it is good to earn money to help their family who are very poor, and they hope that in the future their parents won't have to work as hard. I understand their responsibility and obligation to the well being of their whole to their family, especially that of the eldest child. This was a real eye opener for me as I realised that there are so many contributing factors to the trafficking situation, and that I need to put my western views on hold and really listen to the community about how they want to improve their lives. I look forward to this week when we start to delve deeper into the experiences of the children who have already worked in Saigon, and using their stories to spread awareness of the reality to the children who haven't been yet. I am excited to learn from these kids, of their thoughts and ideas about their current situations and their futures. Stay tuned!!!!


Enjoy the kids feedback:

• I liked the fishing net game, because I like eating fish

• I like acting our family conflicts, because when I mature and get married, I can avoid the problems that we are acting out.

• I love image theatre, I am so impressed by the pictures we can paint with our bodies. We are all excellent painters.

• I liked the group catch and falling activity. It felt great being lifted. It is a risky activity and I like to be challenged. Image theatre taught us how to draw with our bodies

• The fishing net tag is very familiar to our lives, so I really liked it.

• I feel more confident and more brave because of the falling and trust activities.

• I like acting conflict between friends when drunk. It’s a lesson, to not gather when drunk because you can damage your friendship

• I feel relieved that I am able to express the conflict in our families

• I liked acting out the conflicts, because in real life I am always the passive one, but in drama I can play a more powerful and active role and drive the direction of the conflict

• I really liked the bridge activity but I could not pass over the bridge because I am heavy

• I loved the bridge, I crossed the bridge many times, because I cheated he he he

• I liked the folk stories especially the princess character that Viet played, he acted so well

• I really loved the Greek exercise because I want to be a champion to rescue the beautiful girls from the enemy!

• I feel more confident in public now

• People live longer if they laugh a lot, and in drama we laugh a lot, so we will live longer!

• I enjoyed being a king today and having lots of servants

• The singing was my favourite, Khanh has such a gold voice

• To cross the bridge you need to be skillful to keep balance and to use the support from other people