Up with People is a global education organization which aims to bring the world together through service and music. The unique combination of international travel, service learning, leadership development and performing arts offers students an unparalleled experience and a pathway to make a difference in the world, one community at a time.
Up with People's latest production, The Journey, will celebrate their 50th anniversary while acknowledging that UWP’s mission is an ongoing journey, and is as relevant in 2015 as it was in 1965. The cast brings together youth from 19 different countries including Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United States and Liberia.
See the performance on Friday, February 26th at at 7:30 pm at Orange High School in Pepper Pike, OH. All proceeds from the show benefit Orange Area Service Committee. To learn more and purchase tickets, click HERE.
AN INSIDE LOOK: LOCAL CLEVELAND YOUTH TRAVELS THE WORLD WITH UP WITH PEOPLE
Up with People selected Pepper Pike, Ohio native, Matt Freed, to join Cast B 2015 for their world tour last June, additionally Freed decided to stay for a second semester and joined Cast A 2016 starting his international tour in January of this year. Freed, age 21, is the son of Pastor Chip and Terri Freed and is a recent graduate of Orange High School.
Each year hundreds of young men and women between the ages of 17-29 apply to join the international, educational and cultural program for a one or two semester experience that visits diverse communities on a multi-continent tour.
“During the past four decades, over 21,000 participants who have traveled in Up with People have gone on to become enthusiastic leaders in their communities and the world,” said Eric Anderson, Up with People’s Vice President of Admissions. “Equipped with the life skills and broad perspectives learned ‘on the road,’ they have made tremendous differences through a wide variety of diverse career and life choices and have truly become global citizens. We are excited to have Matt Freed represent Pepper Pike and the Northeast Ohio area on our world tour,” he added. Matt joins list of several other recent Orange High School graduates and Northeast Ohio natives who’ve traveled the globe with Up with People such as Clyde Foxhall, Josiah Rogers, and Elisha Campbell and others will be interviewed to join future casts!
“What excites me the most in bringing Up with People to my hometown is the fact that I am allowed the full opportunity to share this amazing program, which has changed my life, with everyone that I know and love. Up with People has changed my life through teaching me how to humble myself and through learning about new people, cultures, and traditions. It has also helped me in gaining an understanding and empathy for people suffering far away from me as well; motivating me to want to help in any way I can. This program has taught me so many things and has made me into the man I am today; and through this program, I have been able to touch the lives of so many and positively impact the world around me. Up with People coming to my hometown of Pepper Pike and my alma mater Orange High School, excites me because through our commitment to community service and an inspiring musical performance we are increasing awareness about the world issues. This will be my own way of motivating individuals in my community to do the same.” Freed said.
Although musical talent and performance ability are welcome, individual selection is based on a personal interview rather than an audition. Up with People also has an academic partnership with Florida Southern College that allows students who enroll in the program to earn between 12 and 24 hours of transferable academic credit. Important consideration is given to a candidate’s character and maturity. To apply, candidates must be between the ages of 17 and 29, in good health, a high school graduate or equivalent and able to fully participate in all aspects of the program. For more information on how you or someone you know can apply to travel with a future Up with People cast visit upwithpeople.org.