Community Play with Local Children

Hosted by Gaia Temple
Walk to community center from Casa Awänímä, Tzununá

Community Play & Cultural Exchange

“When children are young, they are impressionable. This is an opportunity to relate with the local community and create a good impression that could have lasting positive impact, especially as this area is evolving with new residents and development. A simple act of goodwill can become a bridge that lasts a lifetime.”

When & Where

Wednesday • 2:00–4:00 PM
Meeting point: Casa Awänímä at 1:50 PM
We will walk together to the Tzununá community center
You’re welcome to join the walk or meet us there
Cost: Free
No RSVP needed

After the morning cooking and weaving workshop and shared lunch, we will spend the afternoon connecting with children in the local community through play, music, and shared joy.

This gathering is about showing up with presence, offering our time, attention, and kindness, and participating in community life in a way that is simple, genuine, and respectful.

What We’ll Do

After our shared lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon playing with local children from the Tzununá community. Expect 30–50 children — and a joyful, lively environment.

We’ll connect through:

• simple games

• music and instruments

• shared laughter

• gentle conversation

• presence and kindness

This is not a formal workshop — it’s an afternoon of connection, play, and cultural exchange.

What to Bring

Please bring:
• pelotas — small plastic balls the kids love (about 3Q each in local shops)
• small candies (individually wrapped)
• simple instruments (drum, flute, rattles, ukulele)
• openness, patience, and care

Pelotas are their favorite, and they are easy to find in village shops.

Language Support & Shared Learning

We are looking for Spanish-speaking members of the DAO gathering to help with basic translation during games and conversation.

If you are fluent, this is a great opportunity to:

• help everyone feel included,

• share messages about caring for the environment

• support cross-cultural understanding.

Our Intention

This offering is part of the Gaia Temple Cultural Immersion Series, which centers learning from local traditions and participating in community life with humility.

As more international residents arrive in Tzununá, building positive and lasting relationships with local families is essential. Showing up with kindness helps create familiarity, trust, and mutual respect, especially for the children who will grow up in this changing environment.

This is not charity — it’s connection, presence, and goodwill.

About the Community

Tzununá is a village within the ancestral territory of the Kaqchikel Maya, where children are raised with strong community bonds, shared play spaces, and intergenerational care.

Children here often:

• play together outdoors,

• share games with few materials, and

• engage visitors through curiosity and warmth.

Small gestures — like playing ball together — can create real relationships that continue beyond one afternoon.

Gentle Guidelines

To ensure a comfortable experience for everyone:

• let children lead the tone of play
• avoid filming children without clear adult permission
• offer gifts equally to prevent competition
• follow local cues on what feels comfortable
• keep language simple and kind

Remember: we are guests in their community.