Vision

Nelson Mandela

Performers Without Borders (PWB) works towards giving disadvantaged children the opportunity to explore their potential. We understand that, through teaching performance skills an individual's learning, creativity and team working skills are developed. Further, it helps to build confidence, develop empowerment and overcome social barriers. PWB’s methodology of following the tradition of travelling show, and the principle of fostering long-term relationships, is ideal in not only engaging children, but also ensuring community trust in the project.

PWB envisages a world where all children are able to realise their full potential, and have an understanding of different cultures, the complexity of development issues and the importance of personal action.

PWB will work to establish performance schools around the world, which will work in their communities with disadvantaged children. These schools will act as means by which international development issues are explored and cross cultural understanding is promoted.

The United Nations, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31 recognises

"the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts."

PWB's values

• Education should provide the child with a wide range of life skills...
  UNICEF promotes life skills based education and describes it as “an interactive process of teaching and learning which enables learners to acquire knowledge and to develop attitudes and skills”
  
  
• and contain aspects of fun and playing.
  "Play is essential to development as it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional wellbeing of children and youth." From the American Academy of Pediatrics, 9 October 2006.
  
  
• Self confidence development is key for the disadvantaged.
  Removing social and economic barriers is only one part of helping the disadvantaged; with increased self confidence those who have been oppressed are more able to take advantage of new opportunities.
  
  
• Learning and developing performance skills has great rewards.
  The rewards can be broken down four areas:
  - learning physical skills,
  - working as a team,
  - artistic creation, and
  - performing experience.
  
  
• Fostering cross-cultural community links benefits all involved
  In a increasingly Interconnected world it is important that there is greater understanding across communities, especially where there are major cultural differences.
  
  
• Sustainability of the work through long-term contact with communities
  The best way to ensure the maximum benefit from community development it is key that the effort must been sustainable and work over the long-term.
  
  
• The community is the main actor in development
  The state has the majority of resources for development, however the resources are used most effectively when the community has the greatest say on how they are used.