Reflections of a GPB Ambassador
Pelemo Nyajo is a GPB ambassador and a radical artist who works at the intersection of creative arts and sustainable development, using her art to shift harmful narratives, engage the heart and mind. She advocates for disability inclusion through her initiative ‘Disability with Pel,’ where her vision is to mainstream disability inclusion.
The Global Play Brigade Ambassadors Program was serendipity to me, the universe conspiring to give me new tools, community and a safe space to experiment, connect, create with other crazy radical performance activists like me. It is almost contradictory to be in the development space and want to play. It's not uncommon for people to laugh at or dismiss these ideas, suggesting that we need to adopt more "serious" strategies to make change. For years, I struggled with how to introduce this radical idea into my work, but the GPB Ambassadors Program gave me the courage to break through my fears. I learned that the walls I imagined were actually made of straws.
This program showed me that indeed, transformation can happen in virtual rooms, where people from all corners of the world come together, share their stories, and play with each other. It was an experience that deepened my belief in the power of play—because, as Cathy Salit says, "play softens the borders between us." And in this inaugural cohort of the Global Play Brigade Ambassadors Program, it was as if the borders between us truly disappeared.
The program is an intentional convergence of thinkers, performers, and leaders from across the globe. In this first cohort, we came together as 13 passionate performance activists from 11 different countries, each committed to promoting play as a tool for positive change. From May to August 2024, we were guided by GPB's Executive Director, the amazing Rita Ezenwa-Okoro, and Founder, the wonderful Cathy Salit, alongside experts in play, performance, and community organizing.
It was designed to equip us with the tools to promote play as a transformative force across different sectors—education, workplaces, and communities. It was about understanding the pivotal role play can have in human development, especially during challenging times. But more than that, it was about connecting with each other through interactive conversations, role-playing as leaders, sharing ideas on how we can tell the revolutionary story of the Global Play Brigade to the world.
Permit me to fangirl about the visionaries we interacted with, like Lois Holzman—God, is she brilliant—who insists that play is for people of all ages, and is a vital part of human development. Shadae McDaniel walks the talk with the All Stars Project in the USA, giving young people a safe space to dream out loud through their unconventional performance methods and how this creates real change.
My personal favourite part of the program was having a scene partner. We were all paired with people from other countries, which made it easier to connect and learn from each other.
As I reflect on all that it was for me, I honour the stories, passions and light from the other 12 amazing ambassadors who actively gave to this—through their time, participation, stories, and souls. I am so proud to say that we are now ambassadors for play, committed to advocating for its power to bring about positive social change in the world.
We graduated formally on November 15 and 16, 2024 during the Changemakers Play Festival. It was a bittersweet experience—because one can’t ever fully be ready to leave such a safe and beautiful space. I’m looking ahead, and the ambassadorship has only begun. For the first time ever, I co-facilitated a session during a Global Playshop! I’m excited about what all 13 of us will do through play and in collaboration with the Global Play Brigade.
