Arts Off Broadway students volunteer at orphanage in Swaziland

| Sunday, October 7, 2007 8:47 PM PDT ∞

Photos courtesy of Marie Verger

Escondido-based Arts Off Broadway youth theater recently partnered with Heart for Africa to take a group of approximately 30 students and parents to Swaziland, South Africa, as volunteers at the El Shaddai Orphanage.

The students participated in an art exchange and taught the children in the village the musical production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' In return, the students learned Swazi songs that were performed for the community. The students also helped plant 34 gardens, built onto the orphanage's dormitories, helped where needed in the surrounding community and helped distribute 30,000 pairs of new shoes donated by Soles for Souls.

AOB Artistic Director Siobhan Sullivan is in the process of finalizing plans for a playwriting project centered around the trip to Swaziland. The group has acquired professional playwright Seema Sueko from Mo'oleo Performing Arts Company, who will lead a workshop on the project. Youths college age and younger are invited to participate. Once completed, the play will be offered to school and community groups to help raise awareness of people in need, especially children in Africa.

For information, call (760) 735-3302 or go to http://www.artsoffbroadway.org.

Top photo: From left are AOB President Marie Verger and AOB students Sadie Verger and Amanda Mune, both holding children from the orphanage.

Second photo: AOB Artistic Director Siobhan Sullivan holds a baby from the orphanage.

Third photo: From left, students Janessa Gillette, Julianne Eyers and Allison Malacara help paint a mural on a wall in the boys' dormitory.

Bottom photo: Sullivan and AOB student Ian McGraw work with an orphaned youth on the production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.'

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Don wrote on Oct 11, 2007 12:08 PM:Very nice story. I love the idea of using song, art and theater to connect kids form two very different cultures. Congratulations to the people who thought to make this project happen.

lillain wrote on Feb 11, 2008 10:42 AM:i LOVE hearts for africa i wish i could do something to help! i've always wanted to help others by talking to them about Christ because there are many people that are about to die and what they need the most is God and that is a great way to start! I atcually went to school with those kids and i am very proud of what they established and what they did to bring a smile upon a kids face! way to go SP students!

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