VERO BEACH — For 53 years, the international non-profit organization of Up with People has travelled the globe impacting communities in over 70 countries through service projects, educational activities, host family stays and their Up with People Show.
Up with People’s mission is to impact people all around the world through music and service and inspire youth to become agents of change within their own communities.
Up with People’s visit to Vero Beach March 19-26 will be one of the three stops in Florida. The visit will mark the first to this community in five years and comes at a time when the unifying message of tolerance, respect and hope, that Up with People was founded on, is what our world needs to hear. The group will participate in over 1,000 hours of community service work throughout Vero Beach.
On Thursday, March 22, 7 p.m. and Friday, March 23, 8 p.m., the entire Up with People cast will be on stage, performing their new show “Live on Tour.” This two-hour high-energy show includes pop medleys, international songs, dances and colorful costumes as well as original Up with People songs with a message of hope and cultural understanding. All proceeds of the ticket sales will go to the Youth Guidance Program, Hibiscus Children’s Center and United Against Poverty.
Up with People’s cast has over 100 members from 18 different countries, and we’d like to introduce you to one of them.
Meet Chiante from Bermuda!
Chainte is 21 years old and is one of three Bermudians that are on the road with Up with People. Bermuda is a 21-mile-long island with a population of 65,000 people. She decided to travel with Up with People after they came to the island two years ago.
What do you find that is different here in the US?
The variety of brands and flavors for one food item! Even though many of our foods are imported from the US, we don’t get the variety that’s here in the states. I went to Walmart for Oreos and had no idea so many flavors existed; I mean, are hot cinnamon Oreos really popular?
How will you share your culture with your host family?
If I can find it, I’d definitely buy Barritt’s ginger beer soda for them to taste. We have our own recipe. While other places do make it, I love ours! I’ve found it in Walmart before which was a pleasant surprise. If I can find the ingredients I need, I could even make Johnny Bread. My Nana taught me how to make it. Johnny bread is like an English muffin but sweeter and denser. It’s typically served with a traditional Sunday morning codfish and potato breakfast.
To learn more about Up with People and their visit to Vero Beach, call Gaby Ortega at 303.263.0872 or visit our website at www.upwithpeople.org/verobeach
