The becoming journey of GPB One Asia
There is something coming into existence… Global Play Brigade One Asia!
One Asia Global Play Brigade emerged out of Global Play Brigade activities happening in India and China. A question emerged: What would it be like for the people across Asia to come together to create this movement?
When Brigadier
Cheng Zeng, based in Beijing, China learned more about what GPB India was creating, he felt it was an opportunity for everyone to learn about the lives and cultures of people throughout Asia. Although there are things in common, people wondered together, how could they build with their differences?
The first GPB One Asia meeting was held on June 14, 2022, the initial participants were from
China, Taiwan, India, Singapore, and Japan. People made note that this was an unusual grouping. It is not often that people from mainland China, Taiwan, and India, for example, have the chance to talk and play together.
The meeting was an initial exploration of what “One Asia” means. These talented Brigadiers became enthusiastic about a “One Asia” vision. What emerged from the initial meeting was a GPB Playshop we called
Playing Our World: GPB One Asia
in August, 2022. Sixty people attended, many from China and India.
Ishita Sanyal, who leads GPB India, and
Cheng were the co-facilitators. Ishita facilitated the large group activities; we greeted each other in Gibberish and played with emotions and movement.
Cheng and Ishita led improv scenes about some of the issues going on for people in China and India. Some of the scenes were about the constant Covid testing, loss of electricity, endless lockdowns, and fears about climate change. After this event there was a lot of excitement that something new was happening… GPB One Asia was coming into existence!
Since that initial Playshop in August, GPB One Asia has continued to grow. 2023 began with Open the Door, an international talent show co-sponsored by GPB India and
Turning Point, a mental health center led by Ishita in Kolkata, India. Many GPB friends from China were there to play. In February, Japan GPB launched and will offer their first GPB Japan Playshop in May. The latest development is beginnings of a GPB Malaysia.
As our friends in GPB Japan say, “Enjoy the Differences - A Creative Experiment” is alive and well as we play across borders with GPB One Asia!
