FunForLife Homepage

'Fairies and Sirens Dancing'
Performance in Stari Grad Theatre, Croatia 2001

'I would like to mention how much a creative project of this type means to our children, educationally, socially and for their own self-esteem... In my opinion your performance and other accompanying cultural events have created a breakthrough in cultural activities for our children who showed their talents, their new skills and who bore their hearts to their community.'
Visko Haladic, Mayor of Stari Grad, Croatia, 2001

'Childhood should have something of your show: happiness, freedom, education.'
Sorina Dinu (Teacher)

'When funforlife visited our school they brought us great joy: not just for the children, but also for the teachers.
We were very happy because we saw our children laughing and having fun. You managed to put a smile on adult faces too. As a teacher I had two reasons to feel happy: - for my children and for feeling like a child myself. So I thank you for this.'
Nuti Cretu (teacher for the third graders and mother of one of the children)

'Your show has reminded me of the fact that I have forgotten to laugh or even to smile... I was impressed by your enthusiasm that you managed to transmit to our children as well. I, as a teacher, have learnt from this enthusiasm, that it the way to transmit information to the pupils. I strongly hope, that you won't miss us next time when you come to Romania, as I think that we can do so many things together in the benefit of our children.'
Camelia Brasovenau (Headteacher) - School nr. 4. - Sacele

'You have offered us the keys to the children's hearts and minds. And the keys are: magic and acting.
What you have brought to our children is exactly what most of them have lost. - the power of magic.
Also, educators have to be good actors in order to 'catch' children's attention. After I saw your show I realized once again that if I want to have an efficient communication with the youngsters I have to enter their simple, pure and magical world.
I strongly hope that your show has managed to open the eyes of the school's educators about their relationship with the children.'
Anca Paul (English teacher and educator)

Some Comments on Dragan's present and previous work:

Mine Awareness play in Pristina, Kosovo

'I am always pleasantly impressed when coming across organizations which are dedicated to the same ideals as the Red Cross: care for the most vulnerable...'
Daniel Prewitt, Director of Red Cross Delegation, Sarajevo 1998

'I think continuity is hugely important in this kind of work... my donation comes with great love and support for your wonderful work and your continuing efforts in the Balkans, now more necessary than ever...'
Emma Thompson, Oscar Winning Actress, October 2001

'They came, they saw and they conquered the hearts of the children and adults that saw their show... The response to their work in the refugee camps in Macedonia has been nothing less than extraordinary... A cynic might wonder what real long-term value there is in attending a puppet show or a workshop. As someone who has witnessed firsthand the healing effects of a performance, I can attest to the transformation that occurs in these young people when they come into contact with the actors.'
Andrew Caddell, UNICEF information officer, Skopje, Macedonia 1999

'They keep the workshops in an interactive and caring atmosphere. To engage the children in play and acting activities like this is one essential part of helping the children cope with the adverse circumstances they are presently living in, as well as overcoming the adverse effects of trauma.'
Mai Bente Snipstad, Psychiatrist, UNICEF, Skopje 1999

'I was thrilled to read and hear of your work you carried out in the Macedonian camps and to see some of the wonderful press coverage... Congratulations to you and your team on what you have achieved so far and thank you for your evaluation report which is highly professional and impressive in itself...'
Robert D Smith, Executive Director, UNICEF, London

'You helped us forget the past and we started a new smile, a new life... We started to feel happy about life and forgot our problems of the war... You helped us with heart and spirit to make us infinitely happy... this letter I can't finish because of my joy to our educators... We cannot be separate.'
Pramvera Fetahu, aged 12, Kosovan refugee, Macedonia

'The children need fun, workshops and understanding, all the things you do with them. It helps them enormously not to feel lost and empty. They are severely damaged by the war and they like to have someone caring for them, someone pointing in new direction in life - to forget terrible things and start with things that are beautiful and joyful.'
Gordana Boskovic, The Headmistress,'13 Rujan' Primary, Jajce, Bosnia

'You are bringing color back into the children's lives and just the fact that somebody cares means so much to them. Before you arrive they wait impatiently, while you're here they are excited all the time, and when you go they don't stop talking about you.'
Pavao Handebaka, Head of Dubrovnik Regional Office for Refugees

'Your show was considered by the staff here to be one of the most successful entertainments the children had ever experienced, keeping them enthralled beginning to end.'
Rose Bleach, teacher, Ormerod School for severely physically disabled children

'It's wonderful to play with you. I feel like I'm in a big dream. We will always remember you. Thanks.'
Anita Ninic, aged 9, Komodor Refugee Camp, Croatia

'These people need hope above all. Theatre provides hope in the sense that when the parents see their children laughing, they realize that they still have life in them, that they can still dream. And that provides genuine hopes for a new beginning.'
Linn Williamson, psychologist with the UNICEF team

'Many thanks for your recent puppet workshops. The children loved watching and performing. There were significant gains in confidence and personal development for particular individuals. At the end of each of the three weeks the children's shows were remarkably professional in their presentation.'
John Hawkins, Berinsfield School, England

'Funforlife provided an 8-month long comprehensive therapeutic and educational programme focusing on managing feelings as part of our psychosocial work in the destroyed Telwatta, Akurala & Kahava villages outside Galle, Sri Lanka. We observed significant changes in the behaviour of the children. They became calmer and less violent, worked much better together, were able to express themselves creatively and engage in colourful and joyful performances and events. The children had a lot of fun, and learnt many life skills without even knowing it. Funforlife enabled our organisation to support children who have lost in every way, to be children again.'
Aleksander Radosavljevic – Coordinator of Programmes in Sri Lanka for Danish People's Aid

What the Children say...

I learned:

writing scripts, dancing, acting, singing, making masks costumes, puppets...
Gabriella Vidosevic, 14

we learned togetherness, friendship, and to take care of nature and that we have to speak loud for the audience to hear us...
Zorana Plancic, 12

that everyone is good at something and that everyone should have a chance to do something...
Matko Stancic, 11

that we should not quarrel but trust each other... Nikoleta Franicevic, 10

that we will achieve impossible if we work together... Marita Skarpa, 13 to respect others... Antonio Skarpa, 13

from nothing you can create everything... Mario Radonic, 11

that we should not be cruel to each other... Katarina Moskatelo, 11

that nothing is impossible when you try hard and when you have good teachers... Sara Petric, 12

I loved:

acting and expressing things with movement. We gave our all and I loved to shine on stage... Jasna Racic, 12

when you showed us what theatre lights can do... Antonio Skarpa, 13

when we all paid attention and gave everything we had... Gabriela Vidosevic, 14

performing and partying afterwards when we danced together with all the teachers... Katarina Moskatelo, 11

when we danced and acted all together on stage... Nevena Sansovic, 14

we were so happy to take part in this fantastic performance... Zoran Plancic, 12

games and the most interesting of all was to learn to act... Veseljka, 12

every day was an experience, each more beautiful than the one before it. Everything was perfect... Amalija Tadic, 13

I was:

so happy and proud of our success... Igor Ostojic, 13

thrilled…Frano Juric, 9

sad when it was all over. It will be so empty in here without you... Andreja Zaninovic, 13

And...

the teachers were so professional and they loved working with children... Mario Radonic, 11

the members of Funforlife troupe are excellent. It feels as if I always knew them... Amalija Tadic, 13

this was the best children's performance in Stari Grad!... Amalija Tadic, 13

our teachers were first of all our real friends and then teachers... Katarina Moskatelo, 11

teachers are good and they understand children... Sandro Petric, 9