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| September 2015
/in Uncategorized /by adminPreparations for Escarlet‘s 2nd campaign have started to raise more money for her study in the United States, the children in Montenegro harvested their first vegetables from our garden, new Circus Classes have started in Alto Buena Vista, it was the first month for Lizbeth as our new morning instructor in Quillacollo, we have checked and counted thousands and thousands of bracelets […]
Our new Circus Director
/in Uncategorized /by adminToday is the first working day of our new Circus Director Daniela. Welcome in our team; eres muy bienvenida! The next months she will work together with Adaly and from 2016 she is the one who will manage the Circus Program. To know something more about her, here is a introduction; My name is Daniela […]
NEWSLETTER| August 2015
/in Uncategorized /by adminAugust happenings: We have reached the $5000 goal for Escarlet’s crowdfunding campaign, we said goodbye to 10 volunteers, and we welcomed 1 great new volunteer. In the morning class there was an average of 18 children each day and in the afternoon 51 kids are attending. In our Bracelet Program 9 participants have invested money; […]
Support us through shopping!
/in Uncategorized /by adminWhen you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Performing Life International Inc. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-2375079 and support us every time you shop!