The first coalition-wide festival was Rebecca's idea, suggested during leadership meeting as way to celebrate survival and integration, the kind of community building that military planning and administrative restructuring couldn't accomplish.
"People need reminder why they joined," Rebecca argued, her perspective shaped by experience as refugee and fighter both, "all they see is construction and training and political meetings, one day of actual celebration would do more for morale than ten speeches about future security."
Thalia supported the proposal immediately, her background in refugee management recognizing the psychological value. "She's right, we've been in crisis mode for six months, people joining coalition expect safety but they're getting perpetual vigilance, festival reminds them what safety actually looks like."
