Brighten Up Harvest Assembly 2015
Themes: Harvest, Peace-building
Materials Required: Brighten Up Assembly PowerPoint, Brighten Up film
Optional: Games, brightly coloured props
Desired learner outcomes:

For pupils to understand that every child has the right to play

For pupils to understand how CAFOD is working with communities around the world to build peace and
build a brighter world

For pupils to see the relationship between taking action and supporting communities overseas
Time allocation: approx 20 mins.
Slide 1: Introduction Good morning/afternoon
everyone. I am here with you today to think about how
we can Brighten Up this Harvest, and play our part to
build a brighter world.
Slide 2: First, I want you to think about what your favourite game is. [Ask the children to
tell the person next to them what their favourite game is. You might wish to have props of
different games on display and select children to come up and choose their favourite game
and tell everyone why they like it.]
Imagine what it would be like if you were not able to play
your favourite game anymore. How would you feel?
Not all children are able to play their favourite games. Why
might this be? [Draw on children’s experiences that stop
children from going out to play e.g. busy traffic.]
Around the world violence stops some children from being
able to play. Conflict and fighting in different countries, as
well as violence from gangs, stops many children from
being able to go out with their friends, or from going to school to learn and play.
Slide 3: Meet Diego. Diego is eight years old and lives in El
Salvador. He lives with his family on the outskirts of San
Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.
Diego says: “I like playing. I like going out on my
bicycle. I like playing Mica with my friends.” Mica
(pronounced ‘meeka’) is a game, a bit like tag.
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Diego loves to play, but it is difficult for him to go out to play because there are lots of
gangs and violence where he lives.
People in El Salvador face many challenges. We remember the recent words of Pope
Francis, who encourages the people of El Salvador to stay united in hope. Pope Francis asks
us to pray so that “justice and peace can flower once again” in El Salvador.
Slide 4: Every child has the right to play (see Article 31
of the UN Convention on the rights of the child).
But what is a right? [Invite responses from the children.]
Rights are things that every child should have or be able to
do to have the best start in life. The UN Convention on the
rights of the child tells us: Every child has the right to play
and relax.
CAFOD is supporting a peace-building project in Diego’s community, which makes sure that
Diego has the right to relax, play and take part in different activities.
Slide 5: Diego’s community is working hard to build a
brighter world. School is a safe place for Diego and his
friends to go, where they are free to play, learn skills, and
have a voice. Diego says: “At school I feel very safe, I
feel really good.”
As part of CAFOD’s peace-building project, Diego’s school
runs different sport, music and dance activities for children
to join. Diego learns to play the drum in a peace band.
Diego says: “I feel very happy when I drum because I feel in harmony. I like the
sound.”
Slide 6: We can Brighten Up our world this Harvest and
make a difference to the lives of others. By raising money to
support CAFOD projects, we can help children around the
world find a safe space, away from violence, where they can
play.
Show the Brighten up video.
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Slide 7: You have seen lots of ideas in the video but what
can you do in school/class to Brighten Up? Perhaps you could
dress up in bright colours for the day and organise a
competition to see who can wear the brightest socks or ties.
Or maybe you could hold a bright bake sale, and decorate
your cakes with colourful icing or rainbow sprinkles. Or
maybe you could pay to have your faces painted brightly.
How will you get involved and raise money this Harvest, to
help build a brighter world? [Invite ideas from the children.]
[If using this assembly on Harvest Fast Day, please rephrase to talk about how the school
has got involved and Brightened Up this Harvest, to help build a brighter world.]
Slide 8: We are going to finish with a prayer, so let’s sit
quietly for a minute. Close your eyes and think about one
thing that has struck you from today. Then think about the
one thing you are going to tell your friends and family when
you go home.
Let’s pray together:
Loving God,
Help us to work together to build a better and more peaceful world,
where each of us can become the best person we can be.
Let us learn from Diego’s community,
who are working hard to build peace.
We pray that leaders around the world work for peace.
This Harvest, guide us so that we play our part to help build a brighter world.
Amen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Teacher note: Find out more about Diego’s life and El Salvador in class, using our award
winning geography photo pack and films, available at cafod.org.uk/geography
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