WHAT IS BREAKING WALLS?
Breaking Walls is an international, intercultural youth art 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.
Our three program options are: Arts Education Creative Arts Discovery for students and educators; Community-Based Oasis, uniting diverse local groups to collaborate as one united creative community; and International, Intercultural Youth Art Summit, where artists and ambassadors from around the world unite for a 17-day ensemble writing, performance, and 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.
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Additionally, Breaking Walls promotes a continually expanding inclusive, respectful, and trusting world cultivated by our artists and ambassadors. Breaking Walls youth activism guides young people to create an alternative community that models inclusive, peaceful cohabitation, with social interaction built on understanding and acceptance.
While building an empathetic global youth community, Breaking Walls also develops literacy, critical thinking, and presentation skills. The program is structured in a sustainable collaboration model, and we currently offer a three-tier involvement/path to leadership: artists, ages 11 to 20, write and perform their original work for a live audience; and ambassadors, ages 21 to 30, are former artists who mentor the writing/performing process.
