Vision

Breaking Walls takes a unique approach to youth empowerment, leadership, and empathy by addressing four challenges youth in the 21st Century face:

SOCIAL UNREST
Amid the chaos, conflict, and societal pressures, young men and women struggle for a sense of normalcy, control, and the ideals they believe are right. As they navigate towards the bright, happy futures they desire, their choices are sometimes inspirational, sometimes harmful, and even self-destructive. Breaking Walls allows youth to demonstrate that coming-of-age and activism positively define and shape individual lives.

INTOLERANCE
As government officials, community leaders, and social media push reactionary intolerance in the form of racist, religious, and ideological bating, Breaking Walls offers youth the opportunity to collaborate as empathetic, proactive allies and activists in the change-making and peace-building processes.

PEER PRESSURE
Today’s youth continually face “Haters & Fakes” in schools, churches, neighborhoods, and in the ubiquitous “Everyone.” “Haters” resent those youth they see as possessing a life plan and consistently challenge that upward, forward progress. “Fakes” attach themselves to positive, empowered youth and attempt to reroute their energy to serve a hidden agenda. Through reflective, creative, and mufti-disciplinary writing and performing, Breaking Walls encourages young students to discover their values and identity to deepen their understanding of and compassion for others and use the insights, skills, and tools developed in our initiative as they transition into leadership positions.

LIFE IN A “VIRTUAL” WORLD
The influence, proliferation, and immediacy of social media blur the boundaries of right and wrong, provide a false shield against consequences and repercussions, and pit the lure of notoriety against the restraint of common sense and decency. Breaking Walls demonstrates that social media can’t replace face-to-face dialogue. It fosters the understanding that a personal profile not only reflects their chosen perception of themselves but it determines their perception by others.

FUTURE PLANS
Breaking Walls is considering future partnerships with youth in Sarajevo, Muscat, Hanoi, Kilgali, and Quebec City from 2025 to 2030.