"Live Free" Concert

Project Title: Live Free Concert

Project Background:

Life Haven, Inc. (LHI) is a non-profit organization of persons with disabilities duly registered at
the SEC with a mission to promote the Independent Living (IL) philosophy. The Independent Living
movement started in Berkley, California during the 70�s and became a worldwide phenomenon
encouraging the restoration of self-confidence and self-respect of persons with disabilities, promoting
active participation and awareness of our inherent rights such as equal opportunities. The movement is
striving for social change that will result to a barrier-free society where persons with disabilities are living
in the community and enjoying life to the utmost.

Life Haven's vision, mission and goal can be summarized as establishment of an IL centre in the Philippines. Life Haven is a member of the Asia-Pacific Network for IL Centers (www.apnil.org),Philippine Council on IL and an associate organization of Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability (www.apcdproject.org). Members of Life Haven have undergone orientation seminars and workshops about independent living philosophy and movement here and abroad. We have a steady progress with regard to our activities and the services that we provide. We have held several workshops and orientations of our own with guest resource persons from Japan and Korea and attendees from different provinces of Luzon.

Life Haven provides the following services:

• Advocacy
• Peer counseling
• Peer support group
• Peer visits
• Information dissemination
• Wheelchair assistance
• IL program

To sustain our activities and continue the services that we provide we will hold the �Live Free� concert on May 30, 2009. This fundraising project will showcase performing arts talent of persons with disabilities. The main performer is the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled Performance Art Troupe which will be joined by Filipinos with disabilities and mainstream bands that support our cause.

In 1993, the Beautiful Gate Foundation (BGF) for the Disabled was established in Petaling Jaya Malaysia. They provide accommodations, job trainings, education, recovery programs and various services including independent living programs and services to support persons with disabilities to live independently. The BGF Performance Art Troupe has proven their mettle as shown in their numerous performances like in states and cities throughout Malaysia, such as Sabah, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur. BGF Performance Art Troupe has made a Malaysian record by presenting a wheelchair dance with the most number of dancers and represented Malaysia in the International Disability Art Festival. Beautiful Gate hopes to demonstrate the beauty and strength of persons with disabilities; inculcate a culture of love; and bring hope, warmth and encouragement to the society through performing arts.

Purpose of the Project

• To raise funds for IL activities and services;
• To encourage cooperation amongst organizations from foreign and local to showcase their talentsin performing arts;
  
• To demonstrate the determination of persons with disabilities and the desire to live
  independently;
  
• To promote the greatness of loving and caring spirit of the society and their social responsibility.

Performance Date: May 30, 2009

Expected Outcome:

We are expecting that the audience of the show will have a better understanding about the lives of persons with disabilities and their determination, aspirations and their potentials as human beings. It is also expected that the audience will understand the meaning of independent living for persons with disabilities, more particularly, how people with severe disabilities achieve their independence.

Presented by:
Abner Manlapaz

President: Life Haven, Inc.


Email: lifehaven@gmail.com