The Governing Council has approved this Monday, at the proposal of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, an investment worth 350,000 euros for the development of the Barrios Orquestados project. This financial contribution will allow to continue promoting an initiative that uses music education as a tool for social transformation, especially in environments with higher rates of vulnerability.
The measure will sustain the activity of a program that for years has been consolidated as a transformative tool in those communities where it operates. Through music and collective work, Barrios Orquestados contributes to improving the self-esteem of students, promoting coexistence and strengthening the links between families, schools and the environment.
The Barrios Orquestados initiative, developed by the Bela Bartók Classical Orchestra Cultural Association, works in areas of social exclusion using the universal language of music as a means of inclusion and personal development. The project teaches how to play an instrument and, at the same time, promotes the construction of communities, building positive role models through music and offering new opportunities to minors who, otherwise, would have very limited access to artistic training.
This decision of the Government of the Canary Islands responds to the commitment of the area led by Poli Suárez to the promotion of inclusive educational and cultural policies in projects that, like Barrios Orquestados, demonstrate that art can be a tool for equality and social justice. In a context of economic uncertainty, institutional support for this type of initiative becomes even more relevant, by ensuring that culture also reaches those who need it most.
On this particular, Suárez described the work of Barrios Orquestados as "a pride not only for all citizens, but an example for all institutions" so "since the Government of the Canary Islands learned of their situation, we showed our firm will to help them." "Today, finally, we approved the extraordinary financing with which we fulfill that commitment acquired," he added.
With this investment, the autonomous government reinforces its commitment to an education accessible to all youth, regardless of their socioeconomic context, in addition to recognizing the importance and necessity of projects that improve the lives of many people through close actions such as, in this case, learning to play an instrument, sharing in a group and growing in community.