Fox Fire invited X-Factored Youth to lead the capacity-building process for both the Eswatini and South African branches of the Fox Fire team. These branches will be engaged in various outreach projects across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) throughout the year. The primary goal of the capacity-building sessions was to strengthen the team’s unity through collaborative team-building activities. Additionally, personal reflection exercises were included to encourage team members to explore and discuss both their similarities and differences, fostering deeper connections and mutual understanding.
Day 1 began with an introductory session where participants had the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves. Initially, the Fox Fire team was hesitant, offering only vague introductions. To help break the ice, the facilitator shared his personal journey, explaining how he came to be and the purpose behind X-Factored Youth. This story set the tone for the session and helped establish a sense of trust.
Following this, we played a game called “Who is Who?”, which challenged participants to match titles with names. During the discussion that followed, the Fox Fire team engaged in a conversation about how they would like to be remembered after they are gone. This reflection prompted deep thoughts and personal insights.
Through this discussion, the X-Factored Youth team was able to identify participants who preferred to stay quiet and let others take the spotlight. Recognizing this, the X-Factored Youth intentionally encouraged these individuals to participate more actively by gently putting them on the spot, allowing them to share their thoughts and fostering a more inclusive atmosphere.
The next activity led by X-Factored Youth was called Identity, Value & Purpose (IVP). The highlight of the day came when we played a game called “Identity Migration.” In this game, the X-Factored Youth read out various statements, prompting the Fox Fire team to categorize themselves according to factors such as race, family background, education, gender, culture, heritage, age, and body shape/size.
During the “Identity Migration” exercise, participants began to reflect deeply on the circumstances that have shaped who they are. This exercise allowed X-Factored Youth to explore their personal experiences, uncovering underlying factors that influence individual identity. It became a pivotal moment for the Fox Fire team as they reflected on their own journeys, experienced emotional breakthroughs, and supported one another. The session helped them gain clarity and insight, fostering a sense of unity and understanding within the group. This deeper reflection also enabled the team to connect more meaningfully with their collective goals, personalizing the session to better align with their shared purpose.
To conclude the day, X-Factored Youth asked participants to spend time drafting their own “Team Contract.” This contract was designed to hold the group accountable and establish democratic principles within the team. During this session, we observed how the team engaged with one another, addressing and correcting certain behaviors to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment. This exercise not only encouraged personal responsibility but also allowed the group to collaboratively shape a set of guidelines that would promote respect, cooperation, and mutual support moving forward.
Day 2 marked the official team-building session, where our goal was to intentionally form a cohesive team based on each participant’s own SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). The approach we used was called “Leadership and Critical Thinking through Kids’ Games.” We chose children’s games for two key reasons: first, many participants had to mature quickly and didn’t experience a traditional childhood, and second, games offer an engaging and neutral space where both participants and facilitators can observe and address behaviors in a non-confrontational way.
By using this method, we were able to create a lighthearted atmosphere that still encouraged reflection and growth. The games provided valuable insights into team dynamics, allowing us to identify areas for improvement and reinforce key leadership and critical thinking skills during the post-game discussions.
We introduced the participants to the world of entrepreneurship. We believe this was especially necessary because of the economic challenges and high unemployment rate both South Africa and Eswatini. The X-Factored Youth believes that every youths should understand the basics of entrepreneurship even as they look for employment.
We introduced the Business Model Canvas (BMC) as a tool to help the Fox Fire Team explore and analyze potential businesses they may wish to start. To assess their understanding, we asked them to create a business idea of their own and evaluate it using the BMC framework. We encouraged them to think of a business they could realistically start the very next day, ensuring their ideas were practical, feasible, and grounded in real-world considerations. This exercise allowed them to apply the concepts directly and gain valuable insights into what it takes to build a sustainable business.
After getting them to understand their own businesses through the Business Model Canvas, we took it further by placing them in teams to establish a business model canvas for the Fox Fire organization through the following brief:
The Fox Fire Team views itself not just as an outreach organization, but as a social enterprise. You have been tasked with identifying potential business opportunities that Fox Fire could monetize to fund its outreach programs and expand its franchise. Use the Business Model Canvas to explore and outline growth opportunities, ensuring the strategies are aligned with the organization’s mission and long-term objectives.
African Enterprise (AEE) has developed valuable infrastructure with significant potential for monetization. This includes the rooms, the natural surroundings, and the Fox Fire model, which could be packaged and franchised not only to churches but also to Christian-based schools across the country.
X-Factored Youth believes that AEE, as an enterprise, should carefully assess its assets and identify areas where opportunities for revenue may be overlooked. AEE is in a unique position to generate sustainable income by leveraging both its intellectual property and physical assets, ensuring long-term self-sufficiency.
The three-day capacity-building session brought about meaningful change within the Fox Fire team. They came to realize the importance of leveraging their personal experiences, understanding that both their pain and pleasure can serve as powerful tools to fulfill their purpose and to honor Him.
