The Spirit of Wakanda

Contributed by Ipin and Kidd on Workplace in 2018

So this week myself and Kidd Yeo (NYC) did a framing called 'The Spirit of Wakanda'. Its a simple framing, but we really hoped it has brought alot of learnings to the 24 participants under our care.

How did we sell this framing?

We took our respective course photos as per norm after opening on the 1st day. It is only around 4pm, just before our trust and belay activity, did we share this idea that we hoped to achieve with them. It came along as a moodset for everyone as we realised that most of them are still within their own circle of friends and unwilling to work together. So we introduced the necklace, explaining that each claw on it is supposed to mean something to them. We gave them the 1st claw, which is their flaw at that point of time, and that is TEAMWORK. For the rest, they are supposed to ponder and we will revisit the following day. We also invited everyone to take a new course photo with instructors wearing the necklace and every member doing the wakanda salute. At that point, we could smell their excitement!

They did a Wakanda Charter the following morning, and drew out the values that represent the 7 claws. For any time they manage to demonstrate any attribute, they will earn the claw and colour it up. Every attribute will be re-affirmed and revisited at every activity debriefs to reinforce their beliefs in them. We left the optimism last to be coloured, and can only be done by the instructors. Reason being, we used it as part of our closing, we wanted every 24 of them to bring back these values to their lives, along with the all learnings they have drawn from the activities such as going out of their comfort zones. Hence, to be optimistic that the spirit of wakanda will long stay within them, and they will be able to overcome any obstacles in life.