Prevention should not be overlooked
Cuenca, having been recently rated as the prettiest and most economical city not just in Ecuador but all of South America, has much to offer, while at the same time presenting challenges to both Cuencanos and Gringos. Safety is a concern throughout the world, but fear of migrants and drug cartels are often seen as a primary reason for caution as you go about your daily activities.

A reader of GringoPost and Facebook forums, will see an unlimited number of needs from people who are in crisis. Ben Franklin, who first coined the term, “an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure”, was concerned with protecting towns from fire. When faced with great needs to cure a problem it is hard to step back and work on prevention. But as the three little pigs demonstrated, there is a reason to do so.

The GRACE (Give Refugees a ChancE) Foundation has been addressing the immediate needs of refugees for over 5 years, providing health care, clothing, food and other services to over 18,000 people. We have a new project which looks at prevention, the Cuenca Youth Orchestra and Choir.

Both performing groups will bring together youth between the ages of 7 and 17 from both refugee populations and local Cuencano children, all who could not afford instruments or lessons. There are many children’s orchestras around the world but this may be the first to require a multi-cultural aspect.

What do we want to prevent?

Many youths are left alone during the day, which leads to many problems, including recruitment by drug cartels for children as young as 10. By giving a child an instrument, you prevent the likelihood of involvement with drugs and weapons. Children of different cultures working, learning, becoming a team; will learn to work together, to break down barriers, biases and fears. This in turn helps families to do the same and ultimately the community as a whole. Learning music is one of the best ways to develop the brain, even a brain that has suffered the effects of malnutrition. A good musician is more likely to be a good student. Becoming a musician allows a person many options for their future that would not exist otherwise. There are dozens of other reasons to start a community youth orchestra and choir.

If you would like to help Cuenca build a house of bricks for needy children, you can help in a number of ways; donating instruments or money, becoming an organizing volunteer, being a mentor for a child, no musical talent needed, or just telling others about this project.

The official roll out of this project will be at idiomART on Saturday June 15th, with happy hour beginning at 2 PM and the Venezuelan music concert beginning at 3 PM.

Admission is $15, with all proceeds going to purchase instruments and paying refugee musicians to teach lessons.

You can guarantee your spot by emailing: [email protected] or just show up at the door.

We will be announcing our Orchestra and Choir membership levels from $10 to $1,000 per month and providing a special discount to concert attendees.

If you cannot attend, you can write us at [email protected] or donate at, https://donorbox.org/general-donation-368

Thank you for considering this project.

Steve Chasson: [email protected]

City: Cuenca