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Balloon Prayers

Purpose: To help Scouts develop empathy and write short prayers on behalf of others.

Development Stage:
• Identifying the problems
• Measuring change

Instructions:
• A topic is chosen in relation to the Gifts for Peace project.
• Each Scout is given 2 – 3 minutes to think about this topic and what it means to them.
• Each Scout has a pen and a small piece of paper.
• On the piece of paper each Scout writes down a short prayer in relation to the chosen topic.
• Once the prayer is written it is folded up and placed in a un-inflated balloon.
• Each balloon is then blown up with a separate prayer inside.
• The blown up balloons are then used in a game or batted around the circle.
• At the end of the evening or once the balloons are mixed up the Scouts can burst the balloon and read the prayers out loud.
• The sentiments expressed by the Scouts will be a measure of their understanding of the topic and their empathy towards the people involved.

Alternatives: Scouts can be asked to write and read their own prayers or work together and develop a Scouts' Own on a topic related to their Gift for Peace.

Equipment Needed: Balloons, paper, pens or pencils

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© World Organization of the Scout Movement - 2008

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