YOUNG AND CARING - "We believe in peace, but not passivity" A. Boal

"Just a brief discussion with ourselves and the outside world around us, as well as the activism of the rising generation and their desire to change and change for the better", says Rimanta Vaičekonytė, the promoter of Forum Theatre methodology in Lithuania, founder of the Public Institution "House of Arts and Training", about the project "Young and Caring". 

Better relationships; more meaningful leisure activities; more interesting lessons; the ability to stand up for one's own opinions - all this and much more, we heard from young people talking about what would help them experience life as more meaningful and happier, and avoid destructive life choices.

Young and caring - these were the people we met along the way of the project of the same name ("Young and Caring - Interactive Youth Activities in Vilnius Schools Promoting Volunteering, Resilience, Healthy Life Choices"). These are the communities of three schools in Vilnius - Simonas Daukantas Gymnasium, Jesuit Gymnasium and Liepkalnis School. After filling in an anonymous questionnaire at the beginning of the project, which allowed to prepare the follow-up activities in a targeted way, the Youth Leaders from these schools discussed meaning, happiness, values, psychoactive substance use, and the various sorrows and joys of their own lives and those of their friends. They themselves felt which difficulties were most in need of their attention and, together with specialists from the House of Arts and Education, they prepared Forum theatre sketches on these themes, which they presented at a public event in the schools. What topics did the young people bring to the surface? They talked and shared their emotional experiences on topics such as abandonment of children in the family, alcoholism in the family, violent relationships, bullying, discrimination based on nationality, social status or a myriad of other things, pressure to use alcohol or drugs, other destructive ways to "fit in", isolation...

These themes were addressed theatrically in the Forum's theatre etudes, which were watched by school communities - students, teachers, administrators. Not only did they watch, but they were also invited to participate in the discussions and even in the play itself - after all, you can't solve difficult situations with discussions and good suggestions alone - so both teachers and students had to get up on the stage and try out their own solutions in practice!

In the Forum Theatre, both actors and audience members learn to recognise and identify situations where people are treated unfairly - abused, bullied or pressured to take part in activities they don't like - and, by identifying with the protagonist (the "victim"), to experience how difficult it is to cope with such situations alone, and how things change when the previously neutral bystanders, even if timidly, start to support or try to defend them. In this way, a whole community begins to emerge, based on values such as empathy, compassion and cooperation. What we do see in the Forum Theatre is that even the best suggestions do not necessarily change the situation quickly and strongly - but that this brings the participants together, at least in trying to change such situations in small steps.

The project organisers say: "The training and events in all schools went well (even if it was about difficult topics), most of the Youth Leaders who participated expressed their wish to use this approach in their schools in the future (we have prepared memos for them to continue to do so on their own) and to become volunteers of the House of Arts and Education - and we are looking forward to welcoming them to join us in the future activities and projects!"

The project was supported by Vilnius City Municipality and PI "House of Arts and Education".