TYPE OF WORK
Participatory music work and performance.

TARGET GROUPS
Young people from ex-refugee communities in rural El Salvador.

GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT
UK, South America

COMPANY POLICY
To encourage young people to find their own solutions to the problems that they and their communities face. To encourage young people to find their own voice through creative self-expression.

To preserve those aspects of Salvadorean musical culture that are currently under attack.

To promote the development of self-sufficiency, sustainability and long-term training of the music groups through training and preparation of youth leaders.

To promote youth participation in community structures.

To enable young people to put their creative skills to use in their own communities.

SCALE OF PROJECTS
Number of practitioners: 3–6
Number of participants: 5–150
Preparation time: 1 month – 1 year
Contact time: 1 month – 1 year

PERMANENT STAFF
Katherine Rogers, Director
Jose Elmer Portillo Sanchez, Joint Project Co-ordinator
Carlos Amaya, Joint Project Co-ordinator
Lynette Arnold, Support Worker
Jesus Fiqueron, Music Teacher

Music for Hope (El Salvador, 1999 – ongoing)
Aims: To affirm positive social and cultural values amongst young people. To use music as a way of building young people’s confidence and encouraging positive interaction between the different communities. To affirm Salvadorean cultural traditions.

Outcomes: 200 students participated in music-making. Four new bands were formed. Communities noted increased self-confidence and focus in participants. Participants started to use their music for the benefit of their communities and develop a real sense of commitment to community development. A resurgence of creative output emerged from young people, confidently using Salvadorean musical forms. A lasting musical resource for five communities.

Participants: 200 young ex-refugees. Partners: NGOs, trusts, individual donors.

Opening Minds (UK/El Salvador, 2001)
Aims: To train three young British artists from marginalised communities in the West Midlands in arts facilitation, through training with Music for Hope students in El Salvador. To encourage cultural dialogue between young people in the West Midlands and El Salvador. To create a forum for mutual cultural and political understanding and learning between both groups. To raise awareness with UK schools and youth clubs about realities of life in the third world.

Outcomes: Powerful drama and music material reflecting on socio-political reality in El Salvador and the UK created by both cultural participants. Developed skills and confidence of three young British artists who are all now employed in arts/youth related fields. Engaged these artists with the issues; they now plan to develop their own cultural exchange project to El Salvador. Disseminated findings to a wider audience in the West Midlands through workshops.

Participants: Three trainees/180 young people. Partners: Arts Council England, British Council.

Music for Hope
Training for young people in the Bajo Lempa, co-ordinated by previous Music for Hope students. Students will gain skills to teach music and to organise their own future projects. (El Salvador, August 2003)

Recording Project
British musicians/sound engineers will record Bajo Lempa youth bands in order to make a CD to raise money for music activities. An opportunity to exchange musical skills, and for bands to learn how to use recording technology. (El Salvador, December 2003 – January 2004)

Katherine Rogers
Music for Hope
43 Regent Street, Stirchley
Birmingham B30 2LG

T +44 (0)7984 522 893

E katherinemfh@hotmail.com

“The project is so important to young people here because it keeps them united and occupied.”
Participant, current Music for Hope project

“I have learnt a lot more about the injustice that is caused by a minority of people at the top.”
Participant, Opening Minds project

“The piece provided an excellent vehicle for young people to explore and express together their views.”
Arts Council England report on Reclaim the Future project

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