Jamie's Volunteer Work in Kenya

As some of you may already know, I spent the first 4 months of 2017 in India volunteering with an incredible organization, Performers Without Borders.  PWB is a non-profit that works in third world nations with high rates of child poverty.  They bring social cirucs performance and workshops to children dealing with signficant poverty and other hardships which sometimes include various forms of abuse, separation from their families, physical disability, disease, etc.  My tour with PWB was so deeply fulfilling for me on so many levels -- it is difficult to find the words to describe the scope of impact that this experience has had on me -- but one thing was certain in my heart when my tour came to an end; I would do one again.

That time has arrived.  I have been chosen to co-lead this winters 10 week tour in Kenya and I am both proud and excited to have the opportunity to continue in service of the marginalized and impoverished children of our global community through PWB. 

PWB offers performance arts & circus skills education as a vehicle for enhancing these young peoples lives. The value of arts education/facilitated play is broad and often underappreciated.  It promotes joy, fun and increased fine and gross motor development,  stimulates imagination/learning/expression, offers opportunity to build and participate in community, increases self-confidence, deters delinquent behavior in troubled youth, enhances problem solving and critical thinking skills, encourages high work ethic and pride in a job well done, engenders trust, provides purpose and heals. 

I will be volunteering (working without pay) directly with the kids on average 30 hours per week. This does not include time that will be spent developing, rehearsing, and peforming the hour long show that my ensemble will also share with the communities we visit. Having already completed one tour with PWB, I understand that we will often work in overwhelming situations, that the commutes between the communities we visit can be long and arduous, that personal illness is a possibility, stress is likely, and that -- while the photos always make things look fun -- it won't always be.  That being said, joy is guarenteed, heartbreak of the best kind is also guarenteed, inspiration is assured, humility is also assured, and personal transformation is impossible to avoid.

I am asking for support in raising the funds to make this trip viable for myself.

I will be responsible for covering the cost of all of my living and travel expenses (including airfare, vaccinations, food, etc) during this volunteer tour.  
I am  foregoing my opportunity to work for pay here in the US for an opportunity to work without pay in Kenya because it feels vital to me that those of us with so much attempt to share and connect with those who have less. I also believe strongly in the tremendous value of building cross-cultural contacts within our global community and increasing understanding about the true nature of economic disparity that exists in the world today.

I would be incredibly grateful for any contribution you felt inspired to make towards my efforts. No contribution is too small. I honor the myriad ways in which each of you serve daily. Thank you.