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Tuesday, 2 December 2008

paper bags

we ran a simulation, based on the lives of those living in slums, at a nearby school. we ran 5 sessions of this paper bag making sessions to year 9 students.

we were invited as part of the school's freedom and human rights week.

the game was there to demonstrate the economic slavery of the poor.

as part of the briefing process i asked the question: what do you think are the differences between work and slave labour?

the common answer i received was: it is about your will: one is voluntary the other is forced. the remainder of the game allowed the kids to strip away their decision and will-making process and become at the utter mercy of circumstance. principally their impoverished situation.

it is quite a powerful game and we witness some fairly funny, horrific and crazy decisions that the participants made out of utter desperation to just simply survive.

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