‘Sistema Armenia’: Providing Musical Opportunities for Armenia’s Youth

Let readers make no mistake – this is no ordinary music program. This is an astonishing, life-changing opportunity for the special children in it. It literally alters children’s lives; it gives hope where there was none; it gives a sense of self-worth by teaching a valued and difficult skill to children who had few opportunities in life until this extra-ordinary program touched their lives. It has conferred its magic on thousands of less advantaged children throughout the world.
The volunteers who work in this program have a deep commitment to it. It is very demanding work, yet they are happy to contribute countless hours every day. They feel blessed to be part of the change they see this program making in children. Those who work in it, value the experience so much that they never forget it.
My daughter was a daily volunteer in a group for over a year. She taught the children to make to scale, papier mache copies of the instruments they wanted to learn to play. In this way, they became familiar with all the parts of the instrument they hoped would be donated to them. When they finished making their papier mache instruments, they painted them in a gorgeous bevy of brilliant colors. They added beads and feathers and found objects. They turned them into astonishing works of art, worthy of display in any modern museum. There were tears of joy when the real instruments were donated and they learned to play them. Children who had seldom experienced success or accolades in life, now saw audiences stand up en masse and applaud them.
The article states, “I know there are about 100 disabled kids in Talin, and giving them access to music would be a great source of joy,” It will also give them the sure knowledge that no matter their disability, they are valued members of the community. They will come to know that they are capable of things they never dreamed possible.