There are three Tapori groups in Switzerland, each with the same objective: to work with children on issues that affect their daily lives, issues they are rarely consulted about. These groups foster a trusting environment, where kids can share their experiences and thoughts while learning about ATD Fourth World’s initiatives.

Established in 2020, the group in Rorschach has found that the Tapori group is ideal for children new to the area. In a town that houses over thirty nationalities and has a relatively recent history with ATD, Tapori encourages children to build friendships, express themselves, and work together towards a better world.

Founded in 2023, the Treyvaux Tapori group connects the local community with ATD Fourth World, whose national headquarters have been based there since 1967. Their proximity allows local children to engage with ATD Fourth World’s national centre and learn about its mission and activities around Switzerland.

The Tapori group in Geneva, formed in 2024, aims to provide a space where children can get to know each other better, share moments of fun, and learn about the lives of other children in their city and around the world.

Learning through play

The different approaches of these three groups sparked the idea of a camp during the Easter holidays, which would bring together Tapori children from across the country for a shared experience. The gathering would also give group facilitators a chance to connect, learn from one another, and improve their skills in facilitating activities, team building, and using the Tapori newsletter effectively.

• To generate common understanding and chemistry within a group, it is essential not to rely purely on formal methods. It is also important to implement games that encourage self-expression, listening, and team building; taking into consideration that children often learn through play.

The camp’s schedule, therefore, involved outdoor games and storytelling activities. The children visited a hydroelectric plant and a chocolate factory, where they learned about renewable energy and tasted delicious treats. Evenings were also filled with fun and learning, offering opportunities for socialising and building stronger connections.

Language barriers

Camp participants spoke two languages: French and German. However, these were not the native languages of all children and facilitators. The diverse contexts and backgrounds added valuable cultural richness to the experience, yet presented challenges in achieving mutual understanding and finding a communication pace that suited everyone.

During formal work sessions, the need for interpretation became obvious. Supporting the learning of a group of children who don’t share a native tongue is challenging. Since their expression of ideas and feelings is heavily influenced by the language in which they speak.

This barrier, however, seemed to disappear during more informal activities. The connection shared between the children was almost magical, and they made notable efforts to understand one another regardless of language.

The Tapori Newsletter as a facilitation tool

All three groups used the Tapori Newsletter No. 447 to prepare for the camp, as well as during it. Effectively addressing its topic of school violence — a daily concern for many of the participants — required time and trust, strengthening the bond between the groups. Some attendees were working with a Tapori Newsletter for the first time.

The newsletter activity involved the following stages:

• Reading and understanding the newsletter and identifying the injustices it addresses.
• Working individually on the topic, to reflect on the effects of school violence in each of the children’s lives.
• Listening to each other to create a common message; not by choosing one contribution over another, but by developing a collective idea based on each participant’s input.
• Learning about haiku poems and understanding their meter and their structure, to create individual and collective works of writing against school violence.

The camp achieved it goals. It offered children a unique holiday where they got to meet other Tapori children, have fun together, and take action against injustices they’ve experienced at school. For group leaders, it was a valuable learning opportunity. That they can use to continue advancing their own groups and the national Tapori project.