Blog

PYE Enters New Era of Engagement

After months of research, planning and development, we are very excited to launch our new brand, a new website and a new era of engagement with people and organizations around the world practicing transformative youth work.

Since its formation 3 years ago, PYE has grown and evolved in exciting and unexpected ways.  We are now working in partnership with communities in seven countries to bring what we know about creativity and arts-based youth engagement to enhance their work with youth.

Creativity blossoms in India

Two years ago PYE embarked on a partnership with Bangalore-based Dream A Dream, a life skills program serving 3000 disadvantaged youth per year.  On the heels of a 6-week visit from PYE senior trainer and seasoned social artist, Nadia Chaney, our partnership continues to blossom.

Dream A Dream is an award-winning charity in Bangalore India that provides critical life skills training to children from vulnerable backgrounds.  Their own dream is to equip 240,000 children with essential life skills over the next five years. They chose PYE’s Creative Community Model as a key piece in their strategy to scale.

“Our new partnership with PYE has come at a critical juncture to help us achieve our vision,” says Vishal Talreja, Co-Founder and CEO Dream A Dream and Ashoka Fellow.  “PYE Global’s Creative Community Model has enabled us to train our staff, build sound principles of engagement, and create a scaleable, replicable model for life skills development for our organization.”

In November and December 2011, PYE senior trainer Nadia Chaney led trainings for DAD staff and partner organisations skilling them up to lead programs based on the Creative Community Model and train others.  She supported DAD staff as they led a camp for 34 youth based on the Creative Community Model. She worked with the DAD to develop an arts-based curriculum for teaching life-skills.

Creative Community Camp launches in Brazil

In September 2011 PYE partnered with Agrifirma within their core values of sustainability and environment to develop and implement a community program for the benefit of their employees and the communities where they operate in North-Western Bahia.  In the same year Agrifirma, with PYE’s support, offered an adult training followed by a 5-day youth camp for 45 youth to become creative leaders in their communities.  In the words of Luciana who runs a successful youth program in Barreras, Bahia: “PYE’s program rescues the meaning of what it means to be human and in community”.

Watch the 3-minute film Agrifirma Youth Camp Sept 2011