Our Story
"Two minutes to midnight" is the title of the play these talented and determined kids, hope to be performing at the Worlds Festival of Children's Theater. It is a piece they created specifically for the Festival. It was written in the words of, and developed in the collaborative efforts by the actors, whom are all under the age of 14, and young adults, who are alumni of the Esartes program. All under the direction of Edward Daranyi, a volunteer director from the Stratford Festival of Canada. "Two minutes to midnight" narrates the ridiculously sad and universal reality of children and war.
Esartes has been quietly functioning for eight years in the rural communities of the municipality of Suchitoto. It offers a safe environment for the youth of these communities to discover creativity, self expression and skill building through theater arts workshops. Local children and young adults both participate in programing with a special focus on gender equality, conflict management and the construction of a culture of peace.
To let the children perform on the world stage and tell their story is our goal. El Salvador, once a banana republic, has been systematically denied its right to development and self-determination, and recently disqualified as a sh * thole country. These youth believe differently and they have a story to tell and would like to showcase it to the world, showing of course, otherwise. For the past year they have been focused and working hard in preparing for this opportunity to attend the Worlds Festival of Children's Theatre. Not knowing if they are in fact going, has been a challenge to their great efforts.
To date, half of the production process has already been raised. What they need is to still raise the other half, for things like airline tickets and transportation, insurance, travel documents and notarial expenses for the children and young adult chaperones.
Esartes is a project promoted locally by the Art Association for Development. It has been in association with both the Stratford Festival, which transmits professional training and Cuso International, which facilitates volunteer support from Canada, since 2009.
We believe art can transform the world. If you do as well, we ask you to please support these children's efforts.
From the bottom of their hearts they say MUCHAS GRACIAS.