Performing Life is a registered nonprofit organization founded to help impoverished youth working and/or living on the streets of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Today our various programs empower these young people by teaching them performance and visual arts as productive skills for avoiding drugs and delinquency while ensuring participants remain in school and receive academic support when needed. Performing Life also provides participating youth with new economic opportunities, and the funds they earn are used to start savings accounts that allow them and their families to make important decisions about their educational and financial futures. Since its inception our organization has helped over 2,100 children and members of their families, and we are proud that youth interest in our programs, and desire to expand them, has never been greater. We’re glad you’ve found us, too. For more information about the important work we’re doing here in Bolivia, read on!
How we help
Our programs
THE CIRCUS ARTS PROGRAM started in March 2006. It is the oldest of Performing Life’s projects and forms the heart of the organization’s youth programs. Social Circus classes teach street children and youth skills that increase their coordination and concentration, as well as develop self-esteem and self-determination. At the same time, these are a means to support themselves and/or their families. This means participants have more time to attend school, and study, spend time with family, and participate in pro-social activities.
THE MUSIC PROGRAM began in 2008 with a small studio in a closet, minimal equipment, and six to ten participants. The Music Program engages youth with the least amount of opportunities in life in an environment where they develop self-esteem, using music to express their feelings about their lives and the world around them. The participants learn to create and write lyrics, put them to music, create beats, and produce albums in diverse genres such as pop, acoustic, contemporary, and hip hop.
THE BRACELET AND MICRO-ENTERPRISE PROGRAM which began in 2006, is a youth-managed enterprise that offers participants and their families the opportunity to make beautiful, high-quality bracelets that are then sent to the United States for sale. All profits are returned to the participants and saved in their own bank accounts, which are set up by Performing Life. Families learn to use these funds for education, improving living conditions, and starting microenterprises that sustain them and/or their families.
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM was established in 2014 to offer enrichment lessons engaging youth with a range of subjects designed to improve their educational attainment and broaden their perspectives with topics that are not being taught in the Bolivian school system. Participants take classes each week on how to use the Internet and learn skills that they need to be successful now and later in life.
HEALTH PROGRAMS provide essential services that help to improve participating youth’s overall health through collaboration with local organizations. Youth and their families have access to Dental care, General Health Check-ups, and educational workshops aimed at improving living conditions, family planning and disease prevention.
SCOLARSHIP AND HIGHER EDUCATION PROGAMS are available to all youth who regularly attend PL activities and are 16 and above. Past opportunities include training and workshops with Cirque du Monde and scholarships to learn English and Sound Engineering. Through one of our partner organizations, Smiles Forever, young women become certified Dental Hygienists. In 2015 we are forming relationships with other Bolivian and foreign universities to provide youth with the opportunities they need to become a professionals in more fields.
THE PERFORMING LIFE CAFETERIA provides over 70 kids in the programs with a free healthy meal each day, and employment for mothers as cooks.
How you can help
BECOME A MEMBER AND DONATE NOW!
Become a member and make a donation to help improve the lives of the children and families here in Cochabamba.
VOLUNTEER!
There are many ways you can contribute to Performing Life. It doesn’t matter where you are, what skills you have, or how much time or money you can spare. Click below to see our options for volunteering!
HELP CREATING LASTING CHANGE!
SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN!
We are making a big push to raise $12,000 USD through our Crowdfunding campaign to expand our Social Circus programs to reach 50 new youth in 2015.
BUY A BRACELET
HELP YOUTH AND FAMILIE CONTINUE IMPROVING THEIR LIVES!
Each year, bracelet sales help more than 40 families undertake projects that benefit hundreds of individuals and their communities. Click here to see how youth use their Bracelet earnings to create better futures through the arts!
NEWSLETTER| June 2015
/in Uncategorized /by adminTo say that the month of June was a busy one for Performing Life would be an understatement. In addition the Circus Clases, our Educational Program, and family visits in the context of our Bracelet Program, Marye traveled to the Netherlands to represent Performing Life in a contest where we were selected as one of […]
NEWSLETTER| May 2015
/in Uncategorized /by adminMay was another month full of action. There are new participants in the morning classes (boys from the Tikipaya Wasi youth home), as part of our work with Cirque du Monde, Adaly was able to travel to Argentina for Social Circus Training, John went to Chile for new circus materials, and Marye had an interview with a […]
JOB: Director del programa de artes circenses
/in Uncategorized /by adminAPTITUDES El Director del Programa de Circo deberá tener experiencia en la realización, dirección y enseñanza de Artes Circenses en escuelas, comunidades, teatros, y también en trabajo con jóvenes de edades comprendidas entre los 6 y los 18 años. Es requisito imprescindible poder leer, escribir y hablar Español con fluidez. Se valorará positivamente la capacidad […]
Cirque Du Soleil is helping us raise money by putting on a benefit event for Performing Life. We have been Gifted 50 tickets to the KURIOS show in in DENVER for July 2nd and 23rd. Please share with anyone you know in Denver. 100% of ticket sales go to benefit Performing Life. Tickets must be […]