World Volleyball

World Volleyball (30 minutes to one hour; older children and youth)

Children and youth in refugee settlements often play games such as volleyball to entertain themselves and make friends in their temporary home in a strange land. A variation on this familiar game will illustrate to your teens the inequalities between people and nations. Minimum number of players: 16 persons Materials: volleyball, volunteers to keep score and hold a string that serves as the net

Process: Divide the group into teams of equal numbers; Assign teams the following numbers and letters:

1 = Canada

2 = Indonesia

3 = Papua New Guinea

4 = Ethiopia

A = Norway

B = Laos

C = El Salvador

D = Tanzania

Divide the tournament into the following brackets, with winners of each game playing each other until one team wins:

1 vs. 2

3 vs. 4

A vs. B

C vs. D

·  Play one game at a time. Games are played to five points. Offer a prize to first and second place.

·  Post the following rules:

1. Team 1 and Team A always determine the height of the net at each serve. They can hit the ball any amount of times and it can hit the floor without being out.

2. Team 2 and Team B must hold hands and use their heads to hit the ball over the net.

3. Team 3 and Team C must play the game on their knees.

4. Team 4 and Team D must lie on their backs and use only their feet.

At the conclusion of the tournament, invite reactions, questions and reflections on the experience. Why were there different rules for each country? What might put a country at an advantage or disadvantage (access to health care, education, safe water, food, jobs, etc.)?

Option: Play one more round with representatives from each team. Encourage them to reflect on the need to support and cooperate with each other to succeed. Point out the importance of those who live in countries with the means and resources can help strangers in the world who need our help. Week of Compassion gives us that opportunity.