Friendship Art Education Foundation invites you to the second international edition of the Lelenfant project, a project organized in Wroclaw by several producers, artists and activists who previously created thirteen editions of the Brave Kids project.
We believe that the international edition of the project – participating in the creation of the performance, engaging in volunteering or organizing events, and most importantly, hosting young artists from different parts of the world in your home or apartment, accompanying their creative work, play, and daily habits – allows us to learn the most about other people and their cultures.
It is the helping hand, patience, curiosity, empathy and joy of the meeting that become the foundation for friendships that last for years.
Together we build peace in the world.
DETAILS OF THE INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2024
The international edition of the Lelenfant project is primarily a meeting of nearly 80 young people who, over the course of two weeks, will create the final show: “The Power of Friendship” in Wrocław.
The creative exchange will take place during educational workshops conducted using the “children teach children” method, with Wrocław’s #Host Families, and at the School Complex on Dworska Street in the Pilczyce district of Wrocław.
This year’s edition program includes many artistic events, which will take place in three Wrocław neighborhoods: Nowy Dwór, Złotniki, and Kowale, as well as an artistic street parade, during which a colorful procession of children will march through Wrocław’s Market Square on July 29.
The culmination of the project will be a final show created by nearly 80 young artists representing different cultures, traditions, and artistic forms. We will see an eclectic mix of circus, vocal, dance, and theatrical performances that will showcase the power of children’s friendship. Subsequently, several groups will go on a tour of Lower Silesia, visiting Bystrzyca Kłodzka and Oborniki Śląskie.
Event Program:
Let’s Meet on the Blanket – Picnic with Art | Kowale
An exceptional event bringing together young artists from Poland, Tanzania, Georgia, and the Czech Republic.
July 14, 2024 | Time: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Strachociński Park, Kowale | Free admission
Let’s Meet on the Blanket – Picnic with Art | Nowy Dwór
Our picnic provides a real opportunity for the residents of Wrocław to meet this year’s project participants.
July 14, 2024 | Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Nowy Pafawag, ul. Chociebuska 4-6, 54-433 Wrocław | Free admission
Let’s Meet on the Blanket – Picnic with Art | Złotniki
Picnic with art and performances by children’s groups from Poland, India, Morocco, and Iran.
July 14, 2024 | Time: 4:00 PM | Złotnickie Centrum Spotkań, Wielkopolska 7, 54-027 Wrocław | Free admission
Celebrations – Performances by Young Artists from Around the World | CUKR
Culmination of the first stage of the Lelenfant project, happening simultaneously across several housing estates in Wrocław, concluding with a final show.
July 19, 2024 | Time: 5:30 PM | CUKR, ul. Ruska 46 | Free admission
Celebrations – Performances by Young Artists from Around the World | Złotniki
Culmination of the first stage of the Lelenfant project, happening simultaneously across several housing estates in Wrocław, concluding with a final show.
July 19, 2024 | Time: 5:30 PM | Złotnickie Centrum Spotkań, Wielkopolska 7, 54-027 Wrocław | Free admission
Celebrations – Performances by Young Artists from Around the World | Kowale
Culmination of the first stage of the Lelenfant project, happening simultaneously across several housing estates in Wrocław, concluding with a final show.
July 21, 2024 | Time: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Strachociński Park, Kowale | Free admission
“Behind the Curtain” – Lelenfant Creative Showcase
Final review of performances from three housing estates, showcasing the first stage of the project.
July 22, 2024 | Time: 5:30 PM | Nowy Pafawag, ul. Chociebuska 4-6, 54-433 Wrocław | Free admission
“All Follow Me” – Parade at Rynek
July 29, 2024 | Time: 6:00 PM | Rynek | Free admission
Performance “Lelenfant: The Power of Friendship”
July 30, 2024 | Time: 6:00 PM | Capitol Musical Theatre, ul. Piłsudzkiego 67, 50-019 Wrocław | Tickets from 26 PLN, available at the link
July 31, 2024 | Time: 6:00 PM | Capitol Musical Theatre, ul. Piłsudzkiego 67, 50-019 Wrocław | Tickets from 26 PLN, available at the link
Witness the most touching spectacle in the world! On July 30-31, two performances of the final show will take place at the Capitol Theatre.
A final spectacle created by nearly 80 young creators representing various cultures, traditions, and artistic forms.
July 30, 2024 | Time: 6:00 PM | Capitol Musical Theatre, ul. Piłsudzkiego 67, 50-019 Wrocław | Tickets starting from 26 PLN at the link
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 | Time: 6:00 PM | Capitol Musical Theatre, ul. Piłsudzkiego 67, 50-019 Wrocław | Tickets starting from 26 PLN at the link
The heart of the Lelenfant project (l’enfant = child) are, of course, children, according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, meaning every person up to the age of 18. In our project, a child equals an artist.
Lelenfant groups consist of approximately 4-10 young artists (around 9-16 years old), accompanied by one or two adults – Group Leaders. Leaders must be at least 18 years old, proficient in English, and well acquainted with the children in their group. Group Leaders act as legal guardians for the children during their stay in Poland.
Our project aims to support integration, meaning we invite young people from diverse social and economic backgrounds.
We collaborate with socially engaged organizations, but also welcome informal groups of children who practice various forms of art as a hobby.
We believe that the strength of our project lies in creating it with children and youth in a spirit of respect for their heritage and identity, with their full participation and involvement in deciding the final outcome, which will be showcased to a broader audience.
The project will involve nearly 80 children and youth from Iran, India, Morocco, Gambia, Ivory Coast, and Poland, including 20 participants from Wrocław who participated in the neighborhood editions of Lelenfant in Brochów, Złotniki, and Kowale.
LIST OF GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS:
Czech Republic – Cirkusárna
India – Krantikari Vasudev Gupt Public Inter College
Iran – Koodakan Donya Research Institute
Iran – Tahmineh Art Group
Gambia – Suso Kunda Cultural Group
Georgia – Caritas Georgia
Morocco – Youth Association for Culture and Development
Poland – Friendship Art Education Foundation (neighborhood editions of Lelenfant 2024)
Tanzania – Kigamboni Community Centre (KCC)
Ukraine
Workshops based on the “children teach children” model require adults not only with artistic skills in preparing the spectacle but above all empathy, an open heart, joy, and sensitivity to meeting young people, which are key in selecting the team of instructors. In 2024, for the international edition, we have invited experienced educators and artists.
Here are the artistic instructors:
Mateusz Mefo Godlewski
Sonia Śpiewak-Meres
Magda Celniaszek
Kuba Puchatkiewicz
Ehssan Chameyi
Julita Lech
Preparation and mentoring: Mary Sadowska-Łakomy
We are the Suso Kunda Cultural Group, ambassadors of Gambian culture! As griots, we are custodians of vibrant musical traditions and storytellers of our land’s history. Besides being musicians, we are storytellers of our people, guardians of ancestral wisdom, and custodians of traditions passed down through generations. Through our songs and melodies, we preserve Gambia’s historical memory and uphold the values of our culture. Situated in the enchanting atmosphere of Sukuta, in the pulsating heart of the western coast region of Gambia, we carry with us centuries-old history, captivating melodies, and fascinating stories that have shaped our cultural identity.
Our group consists of young boys and girls who play modern melodies on traditional instruments, accompanied by singing and dancing. This invaluable cultural heritage was handed down by our parents and ancestors, and today we continue to sustain it as an integral part of our social and artistic identity.
This year, we have a unique opportunity to bring our tradition to the hearts and minds of people who may never have heard of Gambia, through the Lelenfant project in Poland (Wrocław), which promotes intercultural integration. This project is not just an opportunity for us to perform in front of an international audience but also serves as a bridge connecting distant cultures and supporting cultural exchange and integration. It is an extraordinary chance for us to share our culture and learn from the experiences of other young people from around the world. As griots, we believe in the power of stories that unite people and in the value of cultural exchange that enriches our lives.
However, we need your help to make this incredible opportunity possible. We are seeking funds to cover the bureaucratic expenses necessary to participate in the project and travel to Poland. With your support, we can bring our music and storytelling to distant lands and enrich our lives with new experiences and connections.
Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to our goal and helps us fulfill our dream.
Are you interested in participating in the #Host Families initiative?
Fill out the form at: https://forms.gle/3RZNWTM3PaGxQYKw8
CONTACT:
Ewa Sawka, Coordinator of Host Families Lelenfant
Email: rodziny@lelenfant.org
Phone: +48 535 548 353
If you want to join as a volunteer?
CONTACT:
Łukasz Jachemski, Volunteer Coordinator
Email: volunteers@lelenfant.org
Mary Łakomy-Sadowska – Artistic Process Coordinator, Artistic Instructor
Ania Sieradzka – Promotion Coordinator
Iwona Frydryszkiewicz – Program and Team Management
Inez Zielant – Event Production
Łukasz Jachemski – Volunteer Coordination, Accommodation Logistics & PR
Ewa Sawka – Coordinator of Host Families
Michał Patyna – Administrative and Financial Management, Logistics
Miruna & Finn – ESK Volunteers, Coordination of Foreign Groups
The Friendship Art Education Foundation, organizer of the artistic-educational project Lelenfant, is one of the leaders in global and intercultural education in Wrocław.
We operate in the field of international cultural and educational events for children and youth, as well as non-formal education. Our team consists of individuals who carry out their tasks with passion and a constant desire for development and new challenges. We work together, not for ourselves. All our activities are carried out with respect for children’s rights and human rights. We manage entrusted public funds responsibly and effectively.
We have a strong connection to nature, and it is not uncommon for us to work in the field. The well-being of the planet influences our decisions and plans. We are part of a network of organizations in Wrocław, Europe, and globally.
Since 2009, the main patron of the Brave Kids project, and since 2022 of the Lelenfant project, has always been and remains the Municipality of Wrocław.
The Lelenfant project aims to foster intercultural integration through the concept of “children teaching children”. The creative outcome of this initiative results in unique performances built from the dreams and ideas of children.
In our project, the child (from French: l’enfant) plays, dreams, makes friends with others, and realizes their own ideas. They reach with their imagination to distant planets and hold a microphone in their hands.
We offer activities for children and youth in the form of extracurricular classes, summer camps, and international gatherings where they participate in creative workshops under the guidance of experienced artistic instructors.
The most spectacular event is the Grand International Finale of Lelenfant, where dozens or even hundreds of young artists from around the world perform together on one stage. Here, art serves as a common language that allows children speaking completely different languages, often with very diverse and even contrasting backgrounds and experiences, to come together, create, and make friends.
