A UNAOC Youth Solidarity Fund winner, Intersections International/TE’A Project, is competing for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grantduring the month of November. The TE’A Project is a performance that uses interactive theater, and a facilitated dialogue to promote peace and mutual understanding.
In 2008, The TE’A Project gathered a company of talented and committed young artists to create Under the Veil: Being Muslim (and non–Muslim) in NYC, post 9/11, an award winning,
documentary-style play, creatively crafted to help Americans transform the conflicts caused by the events of 9/11.
The Pepsi Refresh contest looks for people, business, and not-for-profits with ideas that will have a positive social impact. Once the ideas are accepted, a month long voting process commences allowing individuals to vote for their favorite projects. Everyone can vote up to one time a day throughout the month of the competition. At the end of the month, winners are announced, and the voting starts the following month with new projects.
The TE’A Project submitted under this Pepsi Refresh contest will collaborate with student groups and clubs to bring Under the Veil to 30 colleges, universities, and high schools in the greater, six-state, New York City region. Students involved in bringing TE’A’s theatre-based, conflict resolution program to their schools, will be empowered to create an informal network of students and institutions committed to transforming the everyday clash of cares and threats that continue to divide Americans ten years after 9/11.
At each school, the TE’A Under the Veil tour will integrate high-quality theatrical performance, an innovative “third act” of facilitated dialogue, and structured opportunities for deeper, interpersonal reflection and engagement. The TE’A process is specifically designed to help build the awareness, foster the curiosity, trigger the insights, and diffuse the feelings of threat that young people need to transform – within themselves – the forces of fear and enmity unleashed by the events of 9/11.
As partners dedicated to youth promoting social change, I would ask that you visit the Pepsi Refresh website EVERY DAY to vote for TE’A during the month of November. Think of how many hours we all spend in front of the computer… this will take you less than 1 minute a day to do. If you are unable to make this commitment, I would kindly ask that you vote during the first week of November. It is important to have a large number of votes during this time so your project goes to the top of the list.
To view TE’A flyer [PDF] To vote for TE’A, please see http://www.refresheverything.com/teaproject