New York Times feature!

El Sistema Kenya has been featured in the New York Times today! Click here to read the article.

Kawangware update

This term has been a very short one for our Kawangware students due to upcoming exams for Class 8's and the Kenyan elections. Those of you keeping up with Kenyan news will be happy to know that the children were not affected by the recent slum violence and that exam week has commenced at Kawangware Primary.

Last week, Teacher Faith, who is in charge of our Kawangware location, distributed congratulatory cards and sweets to the Class 8's. They have come such a long way since we started in Kawangware 3 years ago and we are very proud of their progress! We look forward to seeing where they go in the upcoming years ahead!

Would you like to sponsor a teacher?

Hello musical friends! We are looking for sponsors for our volunteer teachers. Our teachers sacrifice their time and use their hard-earned skills each and every day to bring music to the lives of the children around them, serve as positive role models and bring creativity and much needed critical thinking skills to the Kenyan education system. They do this all for free, but many are struggling financially and would really appreciate some extra support. Would you be willing to sponsor one of our teachers for one month, or even a year? If so, please write to us and we will send you more details!

3 Year Anniversary!

Three years ago today we had our first violin group class in Kawangware, joined by Eric Booth! We are so grateful to all of the music teachers who have been there with us from the beginning and who continue to help us and sacrifice their time in reaching out to the children in our communities. Without these teachers El Sistema Kenya would not exist!

Youth Orchestra of the Americas 2017

Over the Easter holidays, two representatives from the The Global Leaders Program and YOA Orchestra of the Americas worked with our projects in Kawangware and Juja. We worked on teamwork, ensemble, and learned many new skills and approaches to teaching.

Below are some pictures from Nathaly Ossa, who worked with our violinists in Kawangware.

The Global Leaders Program Cohort Member, Gabrielle Molina distributed much needed reeds, strings, and other musical supplies on behalf of the Trade Winds Quintet to partner organizations El Sistema Kenya, Ghetto Classics, the Nairobi School aka Patch, and the Precious Blood School.

To make this possible, Trade Winds clarinetist Brian Gnojek recently spent months collecting materials from friends, colleagues, and The D'Addario Foundation, consisting of 1800 reeds; 244 tubes of cork grease; 96 reed holders; 30 guitar and violin strings; and 54 drumsticks—all distributed by Gabrielle this week. Trade Winds is a nonprofit woodwind quintet that has organized volunteer teaching residencies in Kenya and Tanzania. To learn more visitTradeWindsQuintet.com

New instrument lessons in Juja!

We are excited to see what the upcoming year holds for us! This past year we introduced clarinet and guitar lessons in Juja.

From our hosts in Juja, Pendo Amani:

El Sistema today is a movement that has an impact on young people throughout the world. It is credited with improving the lives and lifting the aspirations of participants and their families, reducing crime, increasing school attendance rates and preventing anti-social behaviour.

Pendo Amani, in partnership with El Sistema Kenya and Atvidaberg Kenya Organization, continues to use orchestral music making as a model for social development targeting youth in Juja and its environs. In adolescence, music makes a major contribution to the development of self identity and a sense of belonging, and is seen as a source of support for young people.

#Inspiring #potential #elsistema #sistemaglobal #kenya #music #hope#future

We are realizing dreams!