PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT

Reflection/Child rights based community theatre

The project is financed by Save the Children, UK and Arts Counsil of Mongolia and aimed to assist in development of independent and civic-minded individuals and promote active citizenship in a democratic society. The project's goal is assist the children to develop their aesthetic feeling, creativity, critical thinking and team spirit. The immediate objective of the project is establishment of experimental community theatre for children at SCF Child Center. The project is designed for establishment and running children community theatres aimed at assisting children to develop their aesthetic feeling, creativity, and mainly team spirit.

Immediate objective of the proposed project is to establish experimental community theatres for children in order to:

- Use theatrical art as tool of empowering children
- Develop their ability to express their thoughts, facilitate their abilities to discuss and debate, and understand diversity
- Enhance their skills on communication manners and change attitudes toward their parents, coevals and friends
- Assist children to expose their talents and to be self-confident and independent
- Encourage non-violence environment, friendship and peacemaking process

Globe International has hired 3 experienced teachers and run 3 types of workshops:

• Workshops on Acting and Communication Skills
  Workshops are a vital and very effective part of the process towards performance and aimed to develop trust, sensitivity and supportiveness among the children, to increase acting skills, to begin work upon the play and the ideas behind it, to introduce children to practices of rehearsal, to draw in and reassure children who never have acted before.
  
• Workshops on Music and Singing
  It is aimed to develop music feeling, expressive voice, and enhance singing skills. Children gained skills to sing chorus, solo and group vocals.
  
• Workshops on Dancing
  Children attended the workshops that aims to give understanding on the use of bodies in a space. Producing voices physically is an important part of acting skills.

2. Children are more self-confident and independent
Children became fully aware of their duties in taking parts in the concerts and the play. During the workshops on acting and communication teacher organizes free debates and discussions on themes " Around me " for example: "Market and children" and "At hospital". Participants actively discussed issues and problems they face in everyday live. Children also actively participated in improvisations motivated by teachers and they created their own stories and played the scenes.

3. Children are more patient and tolerant, and realize their responsibility, and learnt how to work .in a team
Workshops based on principle: "All and Active" so they worked hard during rehearsals and
performances of 3 concerts and the play. They have learnt respecting each others.

4. Parents supported their children and mutual understanding between them enhanced
Parents encouraged commitment to their children congratulated with achievements.

5. They discovered their talents
Children are able to dance, sing and act in improvisations and in the play. Even those, who are illiterate engaged to workshops and concerts.

The play

Process of developing play started from story development workshops
Story development workshops started from January 1,2004. Play team was formed from 12 members and they participated in 5 story development workshops. Workshops conducted by professional dramatists H.Naranjargal, Ch.Monkhzul and director Ch.Ganhuyag.

Children proposed 4 stories. Stories were twice discussed and one was selected.

Story 1, proposed by Azbayar:
Story about a boy collecting and selling bottles and he works all the day but his mother spends the money for drinking. However, the boy always tries for her, who is very sick. Drinking badly affects his and she gets more aggressive towards her son loosing mother's love. By the end of sad life the mother dies. One wise man was observing the boy's life all the time and adopts him. The boy founds right way.

Story 2, proposed by Enhbaatar:
A boy from a rich family meets a girl, who collects bottles. He was wondering she is beautiful and why she collects the bottles. One day he prepared a lot of bottles and gives it to her. It was too heavy to carry so the boy proposed his assistance. The girl was against but the boy catches a taxi and delivered the load to her family. The boy founds her poor life and sick mother. But the boy really liked a nice atmosphere and kind attitudes at her family, which absence at his family. They are rich but they always argue and nervous because of money. The boy and girl get more close and friendly. The boy's father owns a factory producing alcohol drinks so the boy is always able to find the bottles. He does it and hides it from his father but one day the father exposed it. He found out that his son's feeling and completely prohibited his to meet the girl. They sent their son to grandparents living in another place and the boy was not able to contact the girl. One day he escaped from his grandparents' home and he found out that the girl's mother died. the boy told the truth to his grandparents and the girl moved to his town, and started studying at the same school.

Story 3, proposed by Davaajargal
3 friends together studied at school and after its completion started preparing to entrance exams of universities. A girl was helping them and all 3 fall in love with her. They went to serious conflict and the girl feels it. The girl's boyfriend was studying abroad and he is coming. The girl together with 3 friends meets her boyfriend at airport

Story 4, proposed by Odontungalag
A daughter of rich family falls into love with a boy from a poor family. Parents found out about the relationship and they went into conflict. The girl's father is his stepfather and he drinks and assaults the boy. Regular drinking turns to argue and finally they get bankrupt and the parents get divorced. The girl and her mother left their apartment for bank loan. The boy was not a poor in the reality. His father, when he died, inherited his money to his friend. The friend gives the money to the boy. The boy paid the bank loan and mother and daughter are happy.

Story 5, proposed by Mongomshagai and Odontungalag
The girl stays at prison. A little daughter of prison worker always played near window and brings sweets to the girl and one day told about it to her sister. The sister came together with her little sister to the prison and meets the girl. The girl told her sad story. She killed her father because he started meeting another women while 49 of her mother's death were not passed. It was a real story.

After discussions workshop participants agreed to select the 5th story and develop it with guides that developed by professional dramatists-consultants. The guides for developing story in consistence with drama principles and members have written draft scenes. Project coordinator, director and head-teacher had written dialogues. The process continued through 5 meetings.

• Rehearsals and Performance
  
  Topic: Domestic Violence

  Idea/concept:
  Children's rights are often violated in unfavorable family and it leads the most worse and unwanted consequences.
  
  Goal:
  Warm heart, friendship and love encourage the self-confidence and brings love to life.

  Story:

  Solongo, the only daughter of family kills her father under stress. She and her mother were suffering from psychological violence because of her father, who used to drink and abuse his daughter and wife. Solongo's mother was sick with heart and died. Once Solongo met his father with his girlfriend at home and under stress and hurt she killed the father. Advocate and Solongo's Aunt (sister of mother, who is a poor and brings up her 4 kids along) protected her from the prison but she did not want to live and wanted to die under car crash. A guy escaped her and brought to hospital. He always visits her and falls in love. Due to his love and moral support of his friends Solongo starts believe in good and becomes more open and confident. After some time Solongo's friend goes to abroad for study and later Solongo joins him. After study they return to home and Solongo thanks her Aunt and her children.

  Periods of rehearsals were tests of taking responsibility and discipline. Children were more accurate, punctual and happy. Rehearsal started on 15 March 2004 and children worked 3 times a week. Later children worked hard for 3 weeks of intensive rehearsals starting from May 2004.

  Meanwhile, costumes purchased, music montage was made and stage produced. 300 copies of postcards printed and distributed. 2 billboards were produced and installed. 23 promotional letters sent to potential buyers of tickets; international organizations and business companies. The children were actively engaged in selling tickets and they earned 200 000 MNT.
  
  UNDP and the SCF bought the tickets and more than 350 people came to see the play. Actors and actresses were self-confident. They had not mistaken in any words or movement or behavior. The play was performed at Children and Youth Palace and it was a big success. The play was taped and media outlets interviewed the children, teachers and parents. The following children from Child Care Center, shelter houses and Mandakh Union performed in the play:

  H.Mongonshagai, S.Odtuya, B.Shinebayar, Ts.Enhbaatar, Ts.Enhjargal, Ts.Odontungalag, G.Davaajargal, E.Budjav, G.Batbayar, T.Soyol-Erdene, H.Battor, B.Altanzul, Ts.Enhsuren, G.Adyahuu