What you need:

• Square sheet of paper
• Writing utensil

Give everyone paper and a writing utensil. Ask everyone to draw a picture depicting “world peace” in the center of the sheet.  You can choose a different topic if you wish – anything that would be an ideal or mutual goal (love, belonging, etc.). On the left edge of the paper, have everyone write one of their strengths.  On the right side, have everyone write one of their weaknesses.

Once everyone is finished, invite the members to share what they drew and wrote. When the first person has finished sharing, the next person will share, and then tape their square to the preceding member so that their strength overlaps the previous person’s weakness. Continue this around the circle until all of the squares are connected in a circle.  Collectively, the goal can be accomplished through focusing on the strengths of the group, but the weaknesses of each person are not ignored (that’s part of being human!).

A quote to go along with this activity:

“To be human is to accept who we are, this mixture of strengths and weakness. To be human is to accept and love others just as they are.  To be human is to be bonded together, each with our weaknesses and strengths, because we need each other.  Weakness, recognized, accepted, and offered, is at the heart of belonging, so it is at the heart of communion with another.” – Jean Vanier