Iglesia Belen Music Training Program
Country: Guatemala
City/Town: Guatemala
CarePoint: Iglesia Belen
People Impacted: 30
Total Cost: $1,773
Estimated time to complete: 1 year
Areas of Transformation
Arts & Recreation
Education
Project Description
The project consists in the purchase of guitars, flutes, and study booklets to create music classes that will help the children of the Iglesia Belen CarePoint develop musical skills and abilities. Music classes will start once a week and will eventually increase so the children can have a safe space to develop their instrumental skills. At the same time this will help to reduce the risk for the children to get involved in drugs, gangs and other dangerous activity.
Historical Background
For several years one of the main goals has been to get the children off the streets and have them in a safe space where they can spend their time. This CarePoint community is located in a very old area from Guatemala City and is filled with drugs, gangs, delinquency, extorsions, human trafficking, and prostitution. Parents are out of their homes working almost all day, so the children tend to be outside until their parents return. They have a lot of spare time after school so these situations are a hazard for the youth of this neighborhood. For this reason, many children between 11 to 15 are recruited by the gangs and used to sell drugs for the drug cartels around the area.
Having a music training program will teach youth meaningful skills and ways to express themselves that will be educational and healthier than other ways they could be spending their time.
Additional Impacts
Practicing an instrument can be a powerful outlet for children’s emotions and creativity. Learning a new skill can also build the child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Engagement Opportunities
If donors have musical ability or interest, they could provide in-person or virtual lessons along with educational teaching resources for students to learn from.
