By DANIELA BARRAGAN | Director
This summer, Fundación Cecilia Rivadeneira is bringing joy, healing, and hope to children with cancer and their siblings in Ecuador through its expanded Performing Arts and Art Therapy Program "Ja Jarabe de la alegría"
This year's program welcomes 60 children and adolescents who are participating in an intensive performing arts summer camp. Throughout the program, participants receive comprehensive training in dance, music, theatre, and creative arts, culminating in a live theatrical performance at one of Quito's premier theatres. The program also provides daily transportation and nutritious meals, ensuring that every child can fully participate regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
Over the past several years, Fundación Cecilia Rivadeneira has developed an innovative methodology that uses performing arts as a therapeutic tool to improve the overall well-being of children and adolescents living with cancer. The methodology is tailored to each participant's individual needs and considers the unique challenges they face throughout their cancer journey.
By integrating artistic expression with psychosocial support, the program helps children strengthen their emotional well-being, build self-confidence and self-esteem, develop resilience, enhance social skills, and rediscover the joy of being a child despite the challenges of treatment. The arts provide a safe and empowering space where children can express their emotions, connect with others, and regain a sense of hope and normalcy.
Our Impact So Far
Since July 6, 60 children with cancer and their siblings have been participating in our Performing Arts Summer Camp. Throughout the program, we have provided safe transportation, nutritious daily meals, and high-quality workshops led by professional artists and facilitators.
This program is also made possible by the dedication of 30 young volunteers who accompany the children throughout their journey. Before the summer camp begins, each volunteer receives specialized training to prepare them for working with children affected by cancer. Throughout the program, they are guided and supported by our Volunteer Coordinator, ensuring a safe, meaningful, and enriching experience for both the children and the volunteers.
By the end of the program, these young people become passionate ambassadors for the cause, carrying forward a deeper understanding of childhood cancer and a lifelong commitment to empathy, inclusion, and social impact.
Our Artistic Director, together with our creative team, have developed this year's original theatre production, "La Central Naranja" (The Orange Hub). The play delivers a powerful message about the importance of support networks and shines a light on the often invisible work of caregivers. It reminds audiences that those who dedicate themselves to caring for others also need care and support—and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Every participant plays a meaningful role in the production, whether as a lead actor, supporting cast member, or dancer. Each child has the opportunity to contribute according to their abilities, fostering a sense of belonging, purpose, and achievement.
During these first weeks, the workshops have focused on building trust, strengthening friendships, helping participants feel safe within the group, and encouraging them to express themselves through movement, music, theatre, and creative activities.
Thank you for believing in the healing power of the arts and for supporting this life-changing program!
Your generosity enables us to continue strengthening and expanding this initiative, ensuring that more children with cancer and their families can experience the hope, healing, and joy that the arts inspire.
We invite you to continue partnering with us to make this program sustainable for years to come. Together, we can ensure that every child facing cancer has access to a safe space where they can heal, express themselves, build resilience, and simply be a child again.
Every donation brings us one step closer to that vision. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
