have you ever thought about how breakdance can help people overcome
breakdance can help people overcome
breakdance can help people overcome poverty how much do you know about
poverty how much do you know about
poverty how much do you know about breakdancing until last summer I knew
breakdancing until last summer I knew
breakdancing until last summer I knew very little about it but today I’m here
very little about it but today I’m here
very little about it but today I’m here to tell you about the potential it has
to tell you about the potential it has
to tell you about the potential it has to change lives too often people and
to change lives too often people and
to change lives too often people and governments just so many and intractable
governments just so many and intractable
governments just so many and intractable problems like poverty it is true that
problems like poverty it is true that
problems like poverty it is true that money is always needed to develop and
money is always needed to develop and
money is always needed to develop and run effective programs to address social
run effective programs to address social
run effective programs to address social and environmental issues but we often
and environmental issues but we often
and environmental issues but we often ignore another essential component of
ignore another essential component of
ignore another essential component of helping people overcome adversity which
helping people overcome adversity which
helping people overcome adversity which is helping them develop the confidence
is helping them develop the confidence
is helping them develop the confidence to be their own salvation last summer
to be their own salvation last summer
to be their own salvation last summer I volunteered at Tiny Toons a nonprofit
I volunteered at Tiny Toons a nonprofit
I volunteered at Tiny Toons a nonprofit organization in Cambodia
organization in Cambodia
organization in Cambodia that teaches breakdancing to at-risk
that teaches breakdancing to at-risk
that teaches breakdancing to at-risk kids from the slums I went with my
kids from the slums I went with my
kids from the slums I went with my cousin Suja and we stayed in plan
cousin Suja and we stayed in plan
cousin Suja and we stayed in plan payment the capital city of Cambodia the
payment the capital city of Cambodia the
payment the capital city of Cambodia the basic river implanting cuts the cheaper
basic river implanting cuts the cheaper
basic river implanting cuts the cheaper amp of district from the city centre and
amp of district from the city centre and
amp of district from the city centre and the overcrowded slums of the cheaper
the overcrowded slums of the cheaper
the overcrowded slums of the cheaper impove district is the home to most
impove district is the home to most
impove district is the home to most at-risk kids and their families people
at-risk kids and their families people
at-risk kids and their families people there are struggling with water
there are struggling with water
there are struggling with water pollution food contamination and poor
pollution food contamination and poor
pollution food contamination and poor hygiene it is impossible not to step
hygiene it is impossible not to step
hygiene it is impossible not to step into the raw sewage and garbage on the
into the raw sewage and garbage on the
into the raw sewage and garbage on the road in these lumps the average
road in these lumps the average
road in these lumps the average per-capita income is only about three
per-capita income is only about three
per-capita income is only about three dollars per day and those with no
dollars per day and those with no
dollars per day and those with no education have few options for
education have few options for
education have few options for supporting their families except as a
supporting their families except as a
supporting their families except as a tuk tuk driver so this is a picture of a
tuk tuk driver so this is a picture of a
tuk tuk driver so this is a picture of a tuk tuk and it is essential
tuk tuk and it is essential
tuk tuk and it is essential transportation in Cambodia however there
transportation in Cambodia however there
transportation in Cambodia however there is so much completion that a tuk tuk can
is so much completion that a tuk tuk can
is so much completion that a tuk tuk can go a whole day without finding end
go a whole day without finding end
go a whole day without finding end customers and whenever Shuja and I
customers and whenever Shuja and I
customers and whenever Shuja and I looked for a tuk tuk at least five
looked for a tuk tuk at least five
looked for a tuk tuk at least five pressed around us hoping for a fare on
pressed around us hoping for a fare on
pressed around us hoping for a fare on our first day in Cambodia we spent over
our first day in Cambodia we spent over
our first day in Cambodia we spent over an hour looking for tiny tune
an hour looking for tiny tune
an hour looking for tiny tune where I had a wrench to volunteer for
where I had a wrench to volunteer for
where I had a wrench to volunteer for three weeks
three weeks
three weeks eventually I saw kids dancing on the
eventually I saw kids dancing on the
eventually I saw kids dancing on the street corners and followed them through
street corners and followed them through
street corners and followed them through a narrow alley that leads to Tiny Toons
a narrow alley that leads to Tiny Toons
a narrow alley that leads to Tiny Toons the walls of the building were covered
the walls of the building were covered
the walls of the building were covered by paintings and written on them or the
by paintings and written on them or the
by paintings and written on them or the values dreams and leadership lessons of
values dreams and leadership lessons of
values dreams and leadership lessons of tiny tombs through its values Tiny Toons
tiny tombs through its values Tiny Toons
tiny tombs through its values Tiny Toons hope to teach the kids about love
hope to teach the kids about love
hope to teach the kids about love respect and equality it also teaches
respect and equality it also teaches
respect and equality it also teaches kids about leadership lessons and to
kids about leadership lessons and to
kids about leadership lessons and to help them understand each other and be a
help them understand each other and be a
help them understand each other and be a good listener
this is a picture of children’s dreams
this is a picture of children’s dreams and they are just like other children’s
and they are just like other children’s
and they are just like other children’s around the world some of them wants to
around the world some of them wants to
around the world some of them wants to be a doctor and some wants to be a prime
be a doctor and some wants to be a prime
be a doctor and some wants to be a prime minister in one of the classrooms I met
minister in one of the classrooms I met
minister in one of the classrooms I met one of the founders of Tiny Toons who
one of the founders of Tiny Toons who
one of the founders of Tiny Toons who was pointing at a refugee camp and grew
was pointing at a refugee camp and grew
was pointing at a refugee camp and grew up in Los Angeles when he was a teenager
up in Los Angeles when he was a teenager
up in Los Angeles when he was a teenager he fell English again and was deported
he fell English again and was deported
he fell English again and was deported back to Cambodia a country he had never
back to Cambodia a country he had never
back to Cambodia a country he had never even visited before he was barely able
even visited before he was barely able
even visited before he was barely able to speak the language and was shunned by
to speak the language and was shunned by
to speak the language and was shunned by the local people however his
the local people however his
the local people however his breakdancing skills which has given him
breakdancing skills which has given him
breakdancing skills which has given him a source of self-confidence and a means
a source of self-confidence and a means
a source of self-confidence and a means of self-expression attracted many
of self-expression attracted many
of self-expression attracted many at-risk kids to follow him and he began
at-risk kids to follow him and he began
at-risk kids to follow him and he began to notice that many of the kids were
to notice that many of the kids were
to notice that many of the kids were involved in hum for practices like drug
involved in hum for practices like drug
involved in hum for practices like drug abuse and gang violence just like he had
abuse and gang violence just like he had
abuse and gang violence just like he had been when he was young he didn’t want
been when he was young he didn’t want
been when he was young he didn’t want them to make the same mistakes as he did
them to make the same mistakes as he did
them to make the same mistakes as he did before so he decided to found Tiny Toons
before so he decided to found Tiny Toons
before so he decided to found Tiny Toons to provide them with a positive
to provide them with a positive
to provide them with a positive environment give them education
environment give them education
environment give them education discipline and self confidence and hope
discipline and self confidence and hope
discipline and self confidence and hope which are essential to helping the kids
which are essential to helping the kids
which are essential to helping the kids turn their life around and escape the
turn their life around and escape the
turn their life around and escape the cycle of poverty as I learned later
cycle of poverty as I learned later
cycle of poverty as I learned later breakdance originated as a part of
breakdance originated as a part of
breakdance originated as a part of hip-hop AMA African American and Latino
hip-hop AMA African American and Latino
hip-hop AMA African American and Latino use in New York City during 1970s later
use in New York City during 1970s later
use in New York City during 1970s later it was used by Ken’s
it was used by Ken’s
it was used by Ken’s as a non-violent way to solve conflicts
as a non-violent way to solve conflicts
as a non-violent way to solve conflicts and a turf disputes in breakdance people
and a turf disputes in breakdance people
and a turf disputes in breakdance people can develop their unique styles and to
can develop their unique styles and to
can develop their unique styles and to define themselves the courage to express
define themselves the courage to express
define themselves the courage to express feelings and recognize the value of
feelings and recognize the value of
feelings and recognize the value of one’s life is exactly what a risk is in
one’s life is exactly what a risk is in
one’s life is exactly what a risk is in Cambodia need and it is just as
Cambodia need and it is just as
Cambodia need and it is just as essential as money or any other material
essential as money or any other material
essential as money or any other material support wow I was a Tiny Toons I told
support wow I was a Tiny Toons I told
support wow I was a Tiny Toons I told the kids English listen to their stories
the kids English listen to their stories
the kids English listen to their stories and learn breakdancing alongside them
and learn breakdancing alongside them
and learn breakdancing alongside them one of the breakdancer story
one of the breakdancer story
one of the breakdancer story particularly impressed me I will call
particularly impressed me I will call
particularly impressed me I will call him Francis Francis was a student at
him Francis Francis was a student at
him Francis Francis was a student at Tiny Toons when he was young he couldn’t
Tiny Toons when he was young he couldn’t
Tiny Toons when he was young he couldn’t afford to go to school because the
afford to go to school because the
afford to go to school because the corruption in Cambodia is not only a
corruption in Cambodia is not only a
corruption in Cambodia is not only a problem in the government but also a
problem in the government but also a
problem in the government but also a problem at public schools the limited
problem at public schools the limited
problem at public schools the limited number of schools results in
number of schools results in
number of schools results in overcrowding so the students have to
overcrowding so the students have to
overcrowding so the students have to bring extra money to bribe teacher in
bring extra money to bribe teacher in
bring extra money to bribe teacher in order to have a seat in the classroom
order to have a seat in the classroom
order to have a seat in the classroom unfortunately Francis father passed away
unfortunately Francis father passed away
unfortunately Francis father passed away after his third year at Tiny Toons
after his third year at Tiny Toons
after his third year at Tiny Toons and Francis got so depressed that he
and Francis got so depressed that he
and Francis got so depressed that he didn’t know what to do with his life as
didn’t know what to do with his life as
didn’t know what to do with his life as the founder of Tiny Toons saw his
the founder of Tiny Toons saw his
the founder of Tiny Toons saw his distress he offered Francis a job at
distress he offered Francis a job at
distress he offered Francis a job at Tiny Toons
Tiny Toons
Tiny Toons as a dance teacher he also encouraged
as a dance teacher he also encouraged
as a dance teacher he also encouraged him to continue his education and become
him to continue his education and become
him to continue his education and become a leader in the future
a leader in the future
a leader in the future eventually Francis got a scholarship
eventually Francis got a scholarship
eventually Francis got a scholarship from Tiny Toons and majored in business
from Tiny Toons and majored in business
from Tiny Toons and majored in business at a university after he finished his
at a university after he finished his
at a university after he finished his education he returned to Tiny Toons and
education he returned to Tiny Toons and
education he returned to Tiny Toons and took a leadership position to pass down
took a leadership position to pass down
took a leadership position to pass down his power by helping other at-risk kids
his power by helping other at-risk kids
his power by helping other at-risk kids like he used to be as I see it this is
like he used to be as I see it this is
like he used to be as I see it this is the secret to the success of Tiny Toons
the secret to the success of Tiny Toons
the secret to the success of Tiny Toons that the organization is run by people
that the organization is run by people
that the organization is run by people who came from the slums and really
who came from the slums and really
who came from the slums and really understand the people and their problems
understand the people and their problems
understand the people and their problems and
and
and the teachers Italians have inspired the
the teachers Italians have inspired the
the teachers Italians have inspired the power within the kids to help them
power within the kids to help them
power within the kids to help them believe that they can change their life
believe that they can change their life
believe that they can change their life and even bring good changes to the
and even bring good changes to the
and even bring good changes to the community Tiny Toons leadership lessons
community Tiny Toons leadership lessons
community Tiny Toons leadership lessons and power have passed down in the
and power have passed down in the
and power have passed down in the community through breakdancing which has
community through breakdancing which has
community through breakdancing which has given them a voice and a way to
given them a voice and a way to
given them a voice and a way to communicate the value of all individuals
communicate the value of all individuals
communicate the value of all individuals and even those who have been
and even those who have been
and even those who have been marginalized Tiny Toons I saw the hope
marginalized Tiny Toons I saw the hope
marginalized Tiny Toons I saw the hope for the future of the country and was
for the future of the country and was
for the future of the country and was inspired by hot organization helped a
inspired by hot organization helped a
inspired by hot organization helped a kid to change their lives after I
kid to change their lives after I
kid to change their lives after I returned to my studies in the United
returned to my studies in the United
returned to my studies in the United States I wanted to do what I could to
States I wanted to do what I could to
States I wanted to do what I could to support organization and spread their
support organization and spread their
support organization and spread their message I knew that the work of helping
message I knew that the work of helping
message I knew that the work of helping the kids to learn about their inner
the kids to learn about their inner
the kids to learn about their inner strength have to come from someone who
strength have to come from someone who
strength have to come from someone who have experienced what they have
have experienced what they have
have experienced what they have experienced so I ended up by organizing
experienced so I ended up by organizing
experienced so I ended up by organizing a breakdance competition and a workshop
a breakdance competition and a workshop
a breakdance competition and a workshop to help the to response for the
to help the to response for the
to help the to response for the organization so that Tiny Toons can
organization so that Tiny Toons can
organization so that Tiny Toons can expand in size and offer more
expand in size and offer more
expand in size and offer more scholarships also more kids can benefit
scholarships also more kids can benefit
scholarships also more kids can benefit from what they do for my fundraiser I
from what they do for my fundraiser I
from what they do for my fundraiser I was lucky enough to have the support of
was lucky enough to have the support of
was lucky enough to have the support of mag Roxie a local dancer mark
mag Roxie a local dancer mark
mag Roxie a local dancer mark understands the needs and strength of
understands the needs and strength of
understands the needs and strength of the case in Cambodia because he himself
the case in Cambodia because he himself
the case in Cambodia because he himself grew up in a poor neighborhood in
grew up in a poor neighborhood in
grew up in a poor neighborhood in bedford-stuyvesant where he learnt
bedford-stuyvesant where he learnt
bedford-stuyvesant where he learnt breakdancing before going on to found
breakdancing before going on to found
breakdancing before going on to found his own ballet company the money were
his own ballet company the money were
his own ballet company the money were raised with the fundraiser was sent to
raised with the fundraiser was sent to
raised with the fundraiser was sent to Tiny Toons
Tiny Toons
Tiny Toons but in addition to raising money my goal
but in addition to raising money my goal
but in addition to raising money my goal is to spread the word that if we are to
is to spread the word that if we are to
is to spread the word that if we are to address poverty and help people change
address poverty and help people change
address poverty and help people change their lives we have to help them
their lives we have to help them
their lives we have to help them discover the power strength and energy
discover the power strength and energy
discover the power strength and energy within themselves and the belief that
within themselves and the belief that
within themselves and the belief that they deserve better that can be
they deserve better that can be
they deserve better that can be accomplished in many ways but in Tiny
accomplished in many ways but in Tiny
accomplished in many ways but in Tiny Toons break dancing is the way
Toons break dancing is the way
Toons break dancing is the way thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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