The Mayan Dude Ranch, Bandera, TX
This wasn't a typical weekend at the ranch. It's not every day that teenagers impacted by trauma and loss from the U.S., Afghanistan and Belgium have the opportunity to band together, and bond together, while riding horses, dancing to country and western music, roasting s'mores around a camp fire and, most importantly, forming friendships that can stand the test of time.
From January 13-16, Tuesday's Children hosted 20 Project COMMON BOND Winter Session participants at the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, TX. Through workshops focused on dignity, peacebuilding and diversity, Gold Star teenagers from NC, VA, AL, TX, MI, and CA connected with international participants impacted by terrorism and mass violence. All shared the common bond of having lost a loved one in the military or due to global targeted violence.
The scenic Mayan Ranch provided a safe space for guided activities, hay rides, scavenger hunts and games to help the participants connect. But these young people already had an unspoken connection...
The 16 U.S. participants in attendance were Gold Star Family members who had lost a parent serving in the U.S. military. The international participants included Afghan refugees and a Belgian participant impacted by global terrorism. Pain is its own language and, for these teens, grief is common ground.
Throughout Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, these teenagers formed connections that defied cultural differences. They grappled with the ways that trauma and grief had put them on a rocky trail but took comfort in their shared experiences.
A 20-year-old Gold Star participant took it upon himself to help make one of the Afghan refugees feel welcome by teaching him different American traditions and culture, shooting basketballs and learning new slang. This Afghan participant reached the U.S. after the fall of Kabul, but his family was left behind. Living with another Afghan family in the Austin area, this is the first time he has ever been to an overnight camp or retreat. The weekend left a lasting impression on him, and he left with new friends and invaluable bonds.