Neven Pilipović volunteered in Nicaragua during the winter of 2015 and the spring of 2016. Over his six-month stay, he helped restructure the administration of an international office at the Universidad Americana in Managua and championed the cause of children in one of the poorest areas of Nicaragua's capital. He offered a theatre workshop for children and young people from Acahualinca, despite not yet being able to speak Spanish. So he learned Spanish from his charges while they developed a play together. Many of the children there are raised by single mothers who spend their days in Acahualinca's vast rubbish settlement collecting still-usable objects, mending broken ones, washing plastic and selling it on for tiny sums. The people of Acahualinca are exposed to extreme environmental pollution, a consequence of global industry. There is scarcely any prospect of a good education, and parents have to work extremely hard to save a little money for their children's schooling. Moreover, the area has for years been marked by extreme violence and is considered one of the most dangerous places in Managua.
For around four years now, Acahualinca has been home to a theatre project devoted to violence prevention and to improving educational opportunities. It was established and financed by the organisation InnerCHANGE Works. There the children meet once a week in a schoolyard, play together and, with the help of volunteers, develop short plays that engage with the children's own problems. The project has repeatedly had to contend with serious funding difficulties, partly because no local investors could be found who saw in it a chance to prevent violence. In November 2015, Neven launched a three-month volunteer theatre workshop for the children of Acahualinca. At the end of the workshop, on 19 February 2016, the self-devised play was performed at the Universidad Americana. The performance drew attention to the situation in Acahualinca while showcasing the children's talents. The children were supported by the band La Cuneta Son Machin, whose appearance was woven into the production. This was a special highlight for everyone involved, as the band LCSM had this year become the first band in Central American history to be nominated for the Grammy Award 2016. The performance was a great success, and with the help of UAM, ICW and LCSM, local businesses and artists were mobilised who now lend lasting support to the children of the region.
The renowned guitar maker Sergio Zepeda (Guitarras Zepeda), for instance, decided to donate a guitar and to offer free craft workshops for the children in future. And a Nicaraguan actor recognised the project's potential and has now taken over the theatre workshop for the children of Acahualinca. On 11 August 2016, Neven Pilipović, together with Rafael Cordova (UAM) and Janet Foerster (ICW), staged the first AMALGAMA charity night in Berlin, to raise awareness of the situation in Nicaragua in Germany too and to carry the work forward. Until now, the AMALGAMA night had taken place only in Managua; it is an event at which numerous artists from every discipline perform. The AMALGAMA night has its origins in the idea of giving artists a platform for their work that is independent of the country's political situation. On 18 August 2016, the first AMALGAMA night took place simultaneously in Berlin, Managua and Colorado Springs. Donations were sought for the children of Acahualinca, to be used in support of the volunteer activities there, paying for things such as food for the children (snacks and drinking water, for example). After the first AMALGAMA, $100 could be donated to the project. In September, a further AMALGAMA night will take place in Berlin, Managua and Colorado Springs. Anyone interested is warmly invited to contribute some art, or simply to come along as a guest! Updates can be found at www.neven.eu and at www.facebook.com/nevenpilipovic.
When Theatre Truly Makes a Difference
