The dream of getting to know Cuba was a dream that I had since I was a teenager. As I grew older, that desire to meet a new culture got mixed with my aspirations as a teacher, and it transformed into a willingness to face the results of the impact of history itself, the revolution and its results in education. The opportunity given to me by Breaking Walls has once again changed my personal and professional life, as in the previous two experiences. They fulfilled one of my biggest dreams and allowed me to learn more about education. Thanks to Breaking Walls and the Billie Allen Memorial Sponsorship, I was able to take a two-week internship in Neuroscience at the University of Matanzas, Cuba,
Since the first day I arrived in Cuba, I felt like a time traveller. The architecture, the cars, the ways of transport, and nature, among others, made me feel like in a movie, maybe even a Ghibli movie. But you could also tell that they are living under the economic blockade. From what I was told by Cubans, they are living in the biggest crisis they have had during the last period. However, this wasn’t a negative aspect of my stay but an opportunity to observe the country’s reality.
I arrived on February 4th at La Habana and took a bus to Varadero. We had two-week classes and different excursions to learn more about Cuban culture there. But my most precious memories are related to the visits to four various educational centers. In each visit, I learned a life lesson that I will forever be grateful for.
The first place we visited was the Cuban Neuroscience Center in Cardenas; they treat children with different diagnoses and receive donations from Cubans and foreigners to help them function. While observing it, I could tell the professional’s expertise level was unreachable. They had many activities during the day, but they did a lot with little resources, which made me realize that our willingness and desire to help kids and their families is primordial for the progress in the institutions and the service. After that, we went to a Diagnostic Center that was in charge of diagnosing children of all Cardenas.’ schools, which surprised me because in Chile, every school has its own team, but they managed to care for each kid that needed it. Their motivation to care for all the kids made me realize that even in the worst scenario in school when we don’t have enough resources, we have to keep moving; otherwise, kids will be affected, and it’s okay to speak about the difficulties, and as life keeps moving so do we.
Lastly, we went to two schools where I saw something rare compared to the Chilean reality. Students were motivated to learn; they would pay attention without anyone telling them to do it and actively participated in class. But what was the difference with Chile? We have excellent teachers in Chile, but we can only achieve that with some students; we teach with love, but it’s hard to get to each kid. However, my question was answered after talking with many teachers, students, and people on the streets, and the answer was more straightforward than expected: families are very involved in children’s education. In Chile, we tend to connect poverty levels with the destruction of the family; however, even though they may have many economic difficulties in Cuba, the public policy focuses on and encourages family bonds. Besides, they are cautious, and they penalize drug use very strongly to avoid external factors that can negatively affect people and families. They know their most crucial resource is their human resources, so they take care of it, giving them health care and education as much as possible. With this experience, I realized that we as teachers can not do everything by ourselves; kids need their families to promote learning and manners, and we must work together, schools and families.
In summary, my experience in Cuba was fruitful. Getting to know their social and educational reality allowed me to recognize several positive aspects of their educational system since, despite the economic difficulties that the country is going through, their teachers, families and society as a whole are able to raise successful teaching processes.
In this sense, although we could be critical of the Cuban revolutionary process, we cannot ignore its victories, one of them being its integral and communitarian educational system, which emphasizes collaborative work and the family as the fundamental axes of the educational experience.
And once again, without the opportunity given to me by Breaking Walls and Billie Allen, I would not have had the chance to experience this and see it in person.

After experiencing the 2023 Community-Based Initiative in Cape Town, I was chosen to attend a Summit in Sarajevo with Breaking Walls for 18 days in July. I am very excited to participate in the Summit of 2024.

Going overseas is a considerable achievement for a young man from Ocean View in Cape Town. As young people, we don’t always get such opportunities to go to other countries, explore, and create art with our global brothers and sisters. It is a chance for me to make a change in my community.

Thank you for your support of me, my fellow artists, and Breaking Walls.

Sherwin

Hello everyone! My name is Sebastiano, I’m 15 and I’m from the Palermo delegation. This past year I had my first Summit with Breaking Walls and it was an unforgettable experience. I feel so lucky to have done it. 

We spent our first days together working on the writing workshop, in which each of us had the chance to express freely and without fear of being judged our feelings, ideas, fears, weaknesses and strengths, wishes, dreams — every emotion. Personally, it was the part I enjoyed the most because everyone shared their words with the others in an atmosphere of reciprocal support, esteem, and friendship. 

During our 18 days in Palermo, my city, we also practiced meditation with our Director of Ensemble-Building, Josh, embracing the art of well-being and mindfulness. 

Breaking Walls, as you may have understood, is the perfect place for young artists who are impatient to show the creative and artistic side of themselves, impatient to speak their truth freely and in their own way. Impatient to use their art to transform others, and therefore our world.
Receiving the letter of invitation for the 2024 Summit in Sarajevo filled my heart with a so great joy, that I cannot express how excited I am. 
Joining Breaking Walls 2023 Palermo was amazing, I got the chance to meet many new and interesting people from different countries but with the same passion for art as me. Our Director Team and young ambassador made our experience good, safe, and even funny! 

So I’m really looking forward to taking part in the next Summit, to meet new people – especially the Sarajevo artists, seeing again the ones I already got to know last summer, and to live once again this wonderful experience in a foreign country – Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Sebastiano – Palermo artist

My experience with Breaking Walls has been transformative. From the moment I joined, I found myself immersed in a community dedicated to fostering understanding and collaboration through the arts. The organization’s emphasis on breaking down barriers—both physical and metaphorical—has pushed me to explore my creativity in new ways while connecting with peers from diverse backgrounds. Through workshops, performances, and cultural exchanges, I’ve not only honed my artistic skills but also gained a deeper appreciation for the power of art to bridge divides and promote social change. Breaking Walls isn’t just an organization; it’s a movement, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

2024 Berlin artist, Mallouka

The Paula Fürst Schule is a Montessori school in the Charlottenburg district in Berlin, with many creative students and teachers, who like experimenting with new projects and ideas.

This is what led to a fruitful collaboration with Breaking Walls.

It all started in 2008, when Fran and two Breaking Walls artists, Egypt and Nuria, came to Berlin to organize a wonderfully creative workshop for our students, who loved experimenting with their feelings and ideas to create their texts.

In 2021, due to the pandemic, we had to hold our first virtual workshop, which resulted in an inspirational video combining texts, dance, music, and artwork. Now that we have mastered the technical challenges, we look forward to our next virtual workshop in 2024. It will occur during our project week about “democracy and diversity” from Monday 22.01 to Thursday 25.01.2024.

We can’t wait!!

I’m Travis and this is my experience with the Breaking Walls program

So when I heard about the program I thought it was going to be an ordinary normal camp. But it turns up it was totally the opposite of what I thought.

I was shy at first telling myself, “What are these other teenagers going to think about me?” but boy was I wrong! Even though we never met before we clicked within those five days.

Breaking Walls brought a lot of confidence within me. I was nervous and Breaking Walls helped me overcome that fear and today I can proudly say I’m not scared to socialize with people.

Breaking Walls is very fun. I would would go back anytime.

I attended the Breaking Wall Cape Town 2023 program.

It was a very nice experience for me to be around new people, to learn new things about different cultures, and to unite with other people. It was nice to bond with new people I had never met before.

This program helped me a lot to be more outspoken and it boosted my confidence a lot. I never knew I could write poems but in this program, I’ve developed a lot of new skills. For me, this program helped me to overcome and to be able to talk about things I never talked about before Breaking Walls. I’ve found relief from most of my issues through this program.

This program is a safe space and for me, it felt like I was at home. The outings were very nice to learn new things and just to fellowship with our new friends.

For me, I’ve found a new family❤️.

For me, this was a great opportunity and a privilege to be in this program.

Mr. Sherwin Phillips

Dear [Fran, Mama D, OJ],

I hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits. I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible Breaking Walls program that you organized. The experience was truly transformative, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate.

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for the immense effort and dedication you put into planning and executing the camp. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that every detail had been carefully thought out, ensuring a smooth and unforgettable experience for all of us. Your hard work did not go unnoticed, and I am truly grateful for your commitment to making this program a success.

I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for the chance to meet new friends through this program. The Breaking Walls camp provided a nurturing and welcoming environment that allowed us to connect with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds. The friendships I formed during this camp are invaluable to me, and I am confident that they will last a lifetime. Your efforts in creating an environment where we could build these meaningful connections are deeply appreciated.

Furthermore, I would like to extend my gratitude for the creative and thought-provoking activities that were organized throughout the camp. Each day brought new opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, and creative expression. From engaging workshops to inspiring guest speakers, every aspect of the program was carefully designed to inspire, motivate, and empower us. The impact of these experiences on our personal and artistic journeys is immeasurable, and I am truly grateful for the incredible learning opportunities you provided.

Lastly, I want to express my gratitude for your unwavering support and guidance throughout the camp. Your friendly and approachable nature made it easy for us to seek assistance whenever needed, and your wisdom and expertise were invaluable in helping us navigate through challenges and find our own paths. Your dedication to our personal and artistic development did not go unnoticed, and I am forever grateful for your mentorship.

In conclusion, thank you from the bottom of my heart for organizing the Breaking Walls program camp. Your commitment to fostering connections, creativity, and personal growth has had a profound impact on all of us, and we are forever grateful for this life-changing experience. The memories made and the friendships formed during this camp will be cherished for a lifetime.

And thank you so much for the food, I mean it was giving the vibes, my diet literally changed for a few days …..I say thank you to the cooks  too

With utmost appreciation and warmest regards…..😊

To be honest, I would like to come again soon!!

Senior

Ocean View High School Artist

Breaking Walls, safe to say, is quite an experience. 

The beginning of 2023 Palermo Summit began with a creative burst, whereby the artists shared their emotions and thoughts through their writing. During these sessions, our Executive Director, Fran, would actively listen and comment on our pieces, which we would refer to as ‘glows and grows’. Fran would be diligent in her assessments, often resorting to laying on the floor as it ‘helped the flow of creativity’. My personal experience with her glows and grows was very enlightening, and I’d often find myself brimming with pride for my work. Thereafter, artists would engage with one another in peer-to-peer editing, where fellow artists offered their insight into their peers’ work. 

Intervals between would consist of Ensemble building, working on bringing the artists closer to one another.

The journey follows with rehearsals, organizing and preparing artists for our performance, Creative Activist Lab, and Health And Wellness. Our performance is a compilation of each artist’s two writing pieces of choice. Rehearsals featured the lovely Dola, who worked patiently with us artists to create an entire performance. Often after each rehearsal (and some relaxing ensemble meditation) I would feel satisfied, and proud of the progress I had made.  

Creative Activist Lab delved into our personal struggles, our community’s struggles, and ways in which we could better this. This session made me, and several others contemplate their lives.  For the first time, I was talking openly about things I would not have. Creative Activist Lab had me thinking and constantly on my toes. 

The personal insight Health And Wellness offered, was by far better than any therapy session, in my opinion. Personal, as well as social revelations were discovered, as we frequently questioned sensitive topics, such as mental health. Hearing my fellow artist’s struggles with mental health, and how they prioritize their health, made me realize, that I wasn’t as lonely as I thought. Oftentimes, I would find myself relating to another artist, and it gave me a sense of companionship. 

And finally, the performance! Nerves buzzed through the artists on performance night. As people started pouring in, so did our nerves, until finally, we got our time to shine. And shine we did! The audience got a glimpse of our souls, of my soul, and it made us all proud to strut our stuff. And when the finishing song played we danced as if there wasn’t anyone watching. We did it! During our celebration, I realized how far we’d all come during the two weeks we’d been together, and it made me proud. Proud of myself, and my fellow artists.  

Thank you, Breaking Walls for this experience.  

Amy – 2023 Cape Town Artist

Once again Breaking Walls’ Summit is approaching, and I can’t help but feel anxious about it. It’s that feeling of knowing something important is getting closer, and you want to get there even though it’s scary. And I am looking forward to meeting with my international family again, this time in a country with whom I share my ethnicity and mostly my culture. This will be a new experience for me, one I have never faced before. A feeling of going to a new home, with the memories of the old one, but the sensations of a new one.

This year once again I’m hoping to, apart from meeting different people and cultures, get to know Palermo from its inner roots, and get to participate actively in any way I can to help in their country. One of the days I usually enjoy the most in Breaking Walls is what we call the Community Service Day. A day when we can give our “grain of sand” to be part of any community project in the city, from helping in an association focused on the growth of children, to helping and meeting a group of women surviving in places where it isn’t easy for them – to any places where our help may be needed. Because that’s it: having the opportunity to be of help, to open our arms to whoever may need them, and have the opportunity to be there for the people of Palermo. It’s one of the most beautiful things someone can do for this world, and, it’s an opportunity not often found in our daily life.

And then, how not to forget what Breaking Walls is. I encountered someone I knew before joining this fantastic movement a few days ago, and the one thing that I really took away from that meeting was how much I’ve changed and evolved as a person since I first joined in 2019.

Every year, being able to open my mind to every activity we do throughout the Summit and being able to use my writing, which I’ve been doing since I was a child, to convey what I typically keep buried in my thoughts allows me to see the world in a whole new light.

I’ve grown because I’ve had the opportunity to meet myself in a really special way. And every year is a new challenge. I challenged myself with dance last year, and I’d like to do so again this year.

I want to go to Palermo with a whole new wild idea because art is everywhere, and where else can I take this challenge and triumph than with Breaking Walls?

Spero di conoscerti, Palermo.

Fran – Barcelona artist