On October 10, 2025, we had the pleasure of introducing children in Val-de-Ruz to Awalé, a traditional African educational game. This workshop was designed to promote social inclusion while developing essential skills such as logic, patience, and team spirit.
The session took place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our initial goal was to welcome 14 children aged 7 to 14, but in the end, 6 children and two adults participated. This smaller turnout was largely due to the fact that most parents were at work during these hours, which limited children’s availability.
💪 Strengths of the Workshop
Participants showed great interest, and one participant even agreed to become a volunteer animator for future events. Initially, I was surprised when explaining the rules, only to discover that she already had the board game at home but didn’t know how to play — a very pleasant experience.
We had sufficient materials, including three board games financed by the Municipality of Val-de-Ruz. Snacks were plentiful and later redistributed to participants. We also created a friendly competition, with the remaining snacks given to participants as encouragement for active engagement.
The freedom of organization and the trust given to us by the commune was one of the nicest aspects. They did not come to the venue to supervise or control the organization. They simply trusted that, as organizers with more than seven years of experience in the field, we were capable of running the workshop, ensuring safety, and cleaning the venue. This is a commune I would highly recommend to other organizers. It also allowed us to test our punctuality, fairness, and, above all, our ability to take full responsibility for a project until its completion.
The workshop benefited from strong collaboration and support from both participants and the commune. Special thanks to:
- Monsieur Ahmed Muratovic – Conseiller communal
- Nathalie Matthey – Chancellerie (information liaison)
- Isabelle Vautravers – Sports, Leisure, Culture, Health & Economy
for their administrative and moral support, which made the organization much easier.
⚠️ Shortcomings and Lessons Learned
- Communication: Out of the six children, four from Val-de-Ruz were unaware of the workshop. Despite distributing flyers and articles two weeks prior, awareness remained low.
- Limited Resources: Organizing and running the event as a one-person team required high energy and multitasking, which limited reach and scalability.
- Low Turnout: A small number of participants reduces impact and makes evaluation more difficult.
- Timing: The 1:30–4:30 p.m. slot conflicted with many parents’ work schedules.
While the session may have seemed simple from the outside, it required significant investment of time and energy. Despite some registrations, a few participants didn’t show up, which added pressure. The experience taught that flexibility and backup planning are essential.
“Sometimes people seem interested and even register, but things change at the last minute. It’s risky and emotionally draining when you’ve put so much into preparation. Still, every challenge becomes a learning opportunity.”
🚀 Pushing Out of the Comfort Zone
This workshop pushed me out of my comfort zone and served as an invaluable learning experience. Earlier this year, I conducted two sessions as a volunteer at the Centre de Tête de RAN, which helped build inclusion.
When promoting this workshop, I realized that past participants weren’t always available, proving that relying on temporary groups is not sustainable.
Like many pilot initiatives, early challenges don’t define long-term success. The Orangi Pilot Project in Karachi, Pakistan, for example, began with setbacks but later became a world-recognized model for community-driven development.
This reinforced the truth: failure is part of progress. Each challenge helps refine future sessions for stronger impact.
Recommendations for Future Sessions
- Ensure at least 50% of the target participants are confirmed before submitting requests to state or commune authorities.
- Engage families directly, especially migrants or long-term community members, rather than relying solely on official channels.
- Provide transport incentives for low-income families to facilitate participation.
- Gradually expand the team of animators to reach more participants and increase the project’s impact.
- Secure sustainable funding to maintain quality and prevent burnout among staff.
- Inform target locations, such as parascolaire in Val-de-Ruz, at least two weeks in advance of the workshop.
- Prepare the venue one day prior to the event to ensure smooth execution.
- Promote inclusive communication by avoiding references that may single out specific communities; for example, avoid using the word “Africa” to ensure all participants feel welcome.
- Maintain clear and consistent communication with financiers to reassure them that the project will be executed smoothly.
💰 Workshop Value and Contribution
Financial Support (Municipality of Val-de-Ruz)
Item | Total (CHF) |
Snacks / Collation | 42.80 |
Pedagogical Materials | 24.20 |
Stationery | 23.19 |
Game Materials (3 × 26.94 €) | 76.81 |
Workshop Facilitation / Animation Fee | 103.01 |
Transport (round trip: purchase & delivery) | 30.00 |
Community Hall (in-kind) | 400.00 |
Total Financial Support | 700.01 CHF |
Volunteer Contribution (Lema Plan International)
Activity | Hours | Value (CHF) |
Planning, organizing, and facilitation | 10 | 250–300 |
💬 Combined, the financial and volunteer contributions reflect the true value of the workshop — over 950 CHF in total.
📊 Future Impact Projection (2026–2029)
The chart below shows our projected growth in the coming years — combining human capacity and financial labour value.
Year | Animators | Participants | Labour Value (CHF) | Expected Impact |
2026 | 2 | 20–25 children | 500 | Strengthened inclusion network |
2027 | 3 | 30–40 children | 750 | Broader visibility and engagement |
2028 | 4 | 45–60 children | 1,000 | Regional recognition and collaboration |
2029 | 5 | 70+ children | 1,250 | Sustainable program with local partnerships |
The modest increase in financial value reflects a gradual transition from volunteer-based work (50 CHF/hour) to professional facilitation (250 CHF/session), ensuring both quality and sustainability.
💙 Special Thanks
We sincerely thank the Municipality of Val-de-Ruz for providing the hall, financial assistance, and their continued trust and collaboration.
These workshops are part of Lema Plan International’s ongoing mission to promote Awalé as a tool for learning, inclusion, and togetherness through play.
Conclusion 💙 Special Thanks
We sincerely thank the Municipality of Val-de-Ruz for providing the hall, financial support, and their continued trust and collaboration.
These workshops are part of Lema Plan International’s ongoing mission to promote Awalé as a tool for learning, inclusion, and community building through play.