American writer and social activist Helen Keller said, "life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. "
And six red students of the Foundation of the nose, all underprivileged children living in the slums of Jakarta, travel to Europe to take part in an international arts festival is by far the most daring adventure they never had in their young lives.
After weeks of frenzied preparations, the red Nose six children, as well as the artistic director of red Nose Dedi Purwadi, finally left for Jakarta Wroclaw, Poland June 18 six children Harisal (13 years), Kristina (13) and Ida Laila (15) from Cilincing in north Jakarta, and Rizal Herdiansyah (12), Maulana Akbar (14), and Rizki Fauji (14) from Bintaro Lama in south Jakarta.
the children took part in the International Festival of Arts Brave kids, which began June 20 until July 13 the three festival weeks was filled with children teaching children, construction shows together and making hundreds, if not thousands, of people across Poland. When the festival ends, it was really a wonderful experience that these children will never forget.
"The journey so far has been wonderful," Dedi written Poland. "We met many new friends from many foreign countries. They are all friendly. You never feel like strangers in a foreign country. Instead, we feel like close friends from meeting face-to-face for the first time. "
The festival is mainly held in four cities across Poland. Dedi Red Nose and the children remained in Wroclaw with friends from other artistic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, Romania and Russia. Three other cities across Poland, ie Warsaw, Pusczykowo and Walbrzych, hosted other groups based arts such diverse countries as Zimbabwe, India, Iran, Uganda and Brazil . overall, more than 100 children from 17 countries participated in the festival.
During the festival, the Red Nose made children juggling, spinning plate, and also some tricks using sticks of flowers, Chinese yo-yo and poi. Dedi said that for children, personally, more than any single circus tools.
Red Nose artistic director Dedi Purwadi help a Polish child to case spinning plate during a workshop
"by managing to run arts circus particularly difficult using these tools, and earn the appreciation of their friends and public during performances, children will be able to gain self-confidence and courage, "he said.
According to him, the children would also learn about teamwork and how to win the complete trust of their friends with circus tricks that need more than one interpreter to execute .
"Now imagine winning it all before an international public in an event in a distant country. Whenever the public gives to thunderous applause, the positive impact on the confidence of children will huge. they will get a feeling to achieve something they previously thought was impossible, "he said.
However, Dedi recognized that traveling into a far country is not without its problems. One of the most visible problems children face red nose in Poland is the language barrier. However, this has never hindered their high spirit and joy.
"Of course, the language barrier is there. But the Red Nose children always do their best to communicate with other children," said Dedi. "When all of us are scratching their heads trying to find the English word we want to use body language is always the best thing to do with"
The red nose students also share the feeling of Dedi find a great time with their new friends.
"Travelling in Poland is really great," said Kristina. "Even though I miss my family at home, my host family in Poland is really pleasant. We play together and laugh about all the time. They really feel comfortable being so far from home. "
" on our first day in Poland, our families' Home made all six of us in a beautiful park on a hill for a picnic, "said Maulana." It was so much fun. We played football and flying fox with the children's families. I even showed them my skills with the fire poi we brought from Indonesia. My Ghanaian friends brought their traditional drums and I tried to play a little. Then we ate sausage and roasted apples and our home so we bought ice cream. "
Red Nose children with their friends Ghana, Romania, Russia and Bosnia in Wroclaw
After spending two weeks in Wroclaw, the group moved to Krosnice where all groups of the 17 participating countries will meet for the last week of the festival.
"We will hold a massive joint performance with all 17 countries participating in Krosnice. Children are so excited because it will be really great. We will perform juggling and ball juggling ring in joint implementation, "said Dedi. According to him, a similar joint performance took place in Wroclaw between Red Nose and other artistic groups that stayed there." We mixed our circus show with art shows in our Bosnia, Ghana, Romanian, and Russian friends and that alone was amazing. That's why I really can not wait to see the Krosnice massive joint performance. "
Brave Children executive producer Charles Golaj said in a press release that the final common performance aims to show everyone that" We do not need to talk in a language and come from the same culture to be able to communicate. Brave children uses the arts as a tool for facilitating the development of intercultural dialogue and understanding are differences. It is also a chance to help children who are facing devastating limitations in the country. "