PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION

In our ongoing effort to connect the world through music, our direction has been shaped by where we have been and by those who have inspired us along the way. The focus of our organization has evolved and expanded from giving children and young people in at-risk communities access to music education, into using the introduction and integration of music and arts education into their lives to resolve conflict and raise self-esteem, freedom of expression, and potential of advancement in the development of the child and community. We strive to continue progress and foster sustainability with schools currently in development; establish valuable partnerships and collaborations; expand the opportunities and resources available to communities in need; be an access point for various forms of aid, including clean water, electricity, and medical resources; and last but not least, create positive change through music education.

Music education gives children and young people access to unique ways of developing and displaying their knowledge. Music draws on multiple intelligences, and accommodates a variety of learning styles. When children play music together, collaboration increases and conflict is reduced. Learning music has also been shown to increase self-esteem and foster resilience, which is critically important to children who are vulnerable due to poverty, conflict, drugs, and neglect. PFCF’s programs emphasize tolerance and shared understanding as methods for solving problems. Children in different countries and schools learn about and get to know peers who live in dramatically different regions and circumstances through exchange of information. In order to empower the local community, we use local materials and labor when building, utilize local staff and provide living wages, and create opportunities for earned income while also letting them tell their own stories using the technology we provide.

PFCF has led music programs in challenged regions for nearly 10 years. We collaborate with experts and organizations across different sectors, and, most importantly, the beneficiaries, to design solutions using the power of music. The schools and programs are led and affirmed by local village and community leaders, empowering administrators at each location to address the unique needs of their students and teachers, and adjust as needed. Our administrative staff provide support to the local program leaders by disbursing resources each program needs to be able to grow, conducting global and community outreach, connecting donors with projects they are passionate about in order to encourage continued support, helping with curriculum development, and pursuing partnerships to strengthen and benefit the organization as a whole.

After 10 years of work, PFCF has created 15 music programs in 11 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Morocco, Mexico, Argentina and Thailand. More than 2,000 young people attend free classes in dance, instruments, languages and musical theory, all taught by qualified local teachers. At the moment, over 15,000 people have been impacted by PFCF’s community development and empowerment efforts throughout our program regions and beyond. Aside from providing music and arts education, we have also established special projects based on the specific need of the communities, such as raising awareness against human and sex trafficking in Nepal and providing clean water in Mali, among other things.