Breaking Walls is an international youth empowerment movement that uses creative writing and theatrical performance to build global peace and acceptance. Our diverse group of young people from all over the world represent many cultures, religions, socio-economic situations, sexual orientations, educational levels and status as immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Breaking Walls helps them discover their voice to act as peacemakers and leaders, adding gravitas to what scholars call a “voice of poverty” – voices rarely, if ever articulated.
Artist and Ambassadors in the Annual International Summit held in Santiago, Chile, 2018
Additionally, Breaking Walls promotes a continually-expanding inclusive, respectful and trusting world cultivated by our artists, ambassadors and associates. Breaking Walls youth activism guides young people to create an alternative community; designed to model an inclusive and peaceful cohabitation, with social interaction built on understanding and acceptance.
Building an empathetic global youth community, Breaking Walls simultaneously develops literacy, critical thinking and presentation skills. The program is structured in sustainable collaboration model, and we currently offer a three tier involvement/path to leadership: artists, ages 13 to 20, write and perform their original work for a live audience; ambassadors, ages 17 to 21, are former artists who mentor the writing/performing process; and associates, ages 22 to 25, participants from past Breaking Walls International Summits who have become prominent leaders in their home communities.
Breaking Walls in Cape Town, South Africa, 2014
Our four program options are: Virtual Artist Cooperative exploring a range of artistic disciplines while simultaneously building trust and cross-cultural connections in a virtual world; Arts Education In-School Workshops for students and educators; Five-day Community-Based Initiative uniting diverse local groups to collaborate as one, united creative community; and an Annual International Summit where artist and ambassadors from all over the world unite for a 16-day ensemble writing, performance, peace-building experience. Each young person returns to their home community after our intensive, holistic, value-based Summit having explored their imagination and embraced their creativity.
Breaking Walls “graduates” emerge armed with compassion, an appreciation for collaboration, accountability, and commitment, hungry to nurture a world in which they can all trust one another.
Contact us for more information! Donate to the program HERE.