When I first started writing this grant, I knew I wanted to spend time with an El Sistema music program. After looking at their global programs, I decided to choose a place to which I wanted to travel, but didn't think I would really ever have the chance. I e-mailed a few different programs, and decided on a program near Nairobi, Kenya called Ghetto Classics.

"Ghetto Classics is the flagship programme of the Art of Music Foundation. It is a community programme that involves over 300 children in Korogocho – one of Kenya’s biggest slums that is home to about 300,000 urban poor and over 600 more children in 10 satellite areas around Nairobi, 1 in Kiambu and 4 in Mombasa through the Link Up Programme."  www.artofmusic.co.ke/ghetto-classics/ 

The founder, Elizabeth Njorge, is a former vocalist who began this program in 2009. It has since grown and gained international attention with news sources like the NY Times and CNN sharing stories on this incredible program. Music classes take place in primary schools during the week, and the upper level orchestra comes together during the weekends for rehearsals on Saturday and Sunday.

If you want to find out more, do a quick google search, and some really amazing videos and photos will come up. I am so excited to learn about and spend time with Ghetto Classics. It has been able to achieve so much with so little, and that is incredibly inspiring to me.

A Classical Music Lover Changes Kenyan Children's Lives- NY Times Article