Music for Social Cohesion

Music offers young people the opportunity to develop self-expression and to learn a new skill. However, music is not just an individual pursuit. It is also an enabler of cross-cultural communication. Dhow Foundation’s Social Cohesion through Music initiative brings young people together, encouraging them to overcome the limitations of ethnicity and religion, to learn about music from different cultures, to share a common interest, and to have fun. Dhow Foundation supports and works in partnership with Musicmatters Communities, to teach children the skills required to live in communities that value social inclusion. By supporting music education in underserved communities we are creating spaces in which children are offered the opportunity to discard the divisive language of politics as they learn to collaborate and communicate with one another. The classes consist of boys and girls from the three main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. The children learn to play recorders, drums and guitars and are taught to appreciate one another’s musical traditions through songs in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

WHY MUSIC?

Music is a universal language. It has over the centuries brought humanity together, from fostering camaraderie at campfire sing-a-longs to rousing people to act for greater causes. A catchy tune rises above the limitations of language or nationality and forges powerful bonds. In a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation such as Sri Lanka, music is the medium that can encourage a shared connection. We have also observed how the initiative in the settlements has helped children learn important skills that are useful in a well-functioning society.

Team Building

Children develop team skills through different activities from setting up the tent under which their classes are held, to group play and organization of concerts.

Patience and perseverance

Regular practice, weekly lessons, and the discipline required to learn a challenging piece of music teaches children patience and perseverance.

Responsibility

Children learn responsibility by taking care of their instruments, by attending classes regularly, and by turning up for concert practice so that they don’t let their group down.

Culture

Children explore their culture and that of others, by playing music from different genres and in different languages.

Listening skills

Playing in harmony with one another and knowing when to play their instrument in a piece of music improves listening skills.

Self-expression

Children learn the art of self-expression by being encouraged to change the words of popular songs to reflect the local context, and by creating simple pieces of music with assistance from their teachers.

Social skills

Social skills are developed by creating a group of friends in their neighborhoods with whom they have fun through a shared interest.

Self-confidence

By performing at concerts, mastering a difficult piece of music, and by receiving encouragement from peers and teachers,children overcome their initial shyness and build their self-confidence.

Musicmatters Communities

Dhow Foundation collaborates with Musicmatters Communities (https://musicmatterssrilanka.com) on its Music for Social Cohesion initiative. Musicmatters Communities aims to increase cultural education and understanding among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim children who live in low income settlements around Colombo. The organization is an arm of the larger Musicmatters school which provides music education to children and adults. Musicmatters has developed an alternative method to learning an instrument by creating enjoyable environments in which group play and creativity are encouraged. In addition to promoting cultural awareness, Musicmatters Communities intends to provide underprivileged children in Colombo access to the benefits of music education, assisting with the development of social skills, academic achievement, discipline, patience, individual self-esteem and team-work.

Volunteer!

We welcome you to join us at any of our learning sites on weekends or during your school vacation. Email info@musicmatters.com if you are interested in volunteering with us. You would need to be over 14 years in age and be able to play a musical instrument.

Advisory Board

Harini Amarasuriya

Harini Amarasuriya is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Social Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka. She completed her PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh where her dissertation work explored the nexus between the state, development policy and practice within the bureaucracy in Sri Lanka. She is also active in the development sector as a researcher and practitioner and worked for several years as a child protection and psychosocial practitioner prior to joining the Open University. Her research interests include children and youth issues, gender, globalisation and development, micro-politics and the state. She also serves as a Board Member of Nest, a community based mental health organisation, the Centre for Women’s Research (CENWOR) and the Law and Society Trust.

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Avanti Esufally

Avanti Esufally manages Dhow Foundation’s initiative to encourage Social Cohesion through Music. She also oversees marketing and operations at Weir House, a boutique holiday villa in Sri Lanka. Avanti has previously worked as an Economic Research Analyst in the financial services industry and as a Content Developer in the IT industry. She is a Governor of the Board of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka. Avanti has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wilson College, Pennsylvania.

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Sabrina Esufally

Sabrina Esufally, is a Senior Analyst and Head of Law at Vertié Research, a Colombo-based think tank. She is a lawyer specializing in democratisation, governance and public accountability. Prior to joining Verité Research, Sabrina worked at Tiruchelvam Associates, a leading Sri Lankan commercial law firm. She was also a visiting lecturer at the University of Peradeniya. Sabrina has an LL.B. from the University of Durham and an LL.M. from Harvard University

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Sakina Esufally

Sakina Esufally focuses on growing businesses through purpose-led interventions, creating sustainable and inclusive operating models to increase stakeholder value. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Brown University and a post-graduate accreditation from Columbia University.

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Sue Evans

Sue Evans has over 30 years experience in strategy and marketing, largely with multi-national companies, Gillette, GlaxoSmithKline and Whirlpool. For the past 15 years Sue has been working as a Senior Consultant in India and Sri Lanka . Sue is a Non-Executive Director of Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, and also serves as a Trustee on Ayati Trust Sri Lanka and Hemas Outreach Foundation, both national charities involved in improving the potential of disabled and underprivileged children. Holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of Wales, UK.

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Christoph Feyen

Christoph Feyen is presently working as the Director of a Reconciliation Programme implemented by the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), with a particular focus on promoting a culture of memorialisation in Sri Lanka. From 1987 onwards he worked with GIZ in and on South Asia, with long-term assignments in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and again Sri Lanka. He contributed to the establishment of the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) in 2001. Following his academic studies in History, Philosophy and Political Science at the universities of Bonn and Berlin, he joined the German Development Institute (GDI) on a postgraduate programme in Development Economics and subsequently qualified further by attending a two-year professional training in Organisational Development. Christoph is fascinated by the challenges and rewards of intercultural communication, and is increasingly interested in making philanthropy work for a more just society. A keen lover of books, the arts, architecture and landscaping, he likes to relax by working in his garden in the hills.

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MEET THE MUSICIANS

Saturdays on the Streets

Monday 26th March 2018

Meet Sanju … a third year student at the University of Colombo who spends his Saturday afternoons sitting on a dusty street teaching music to a group of enthusiastic children.  He has developed a close bond with his students despite having joined the initiative only a few months ago.  “I feel that these Saturday afternoons have not just been positive for the kids,” he observes “but I think working with them has changed me as well.” Dhow Foundation (DF) - How old are you? Have you finished your studies or are you still in school? Tell us a little about yourself. Sanju - The 7 of us that volunteer now are between 22 and 23 years old. We are all university students here in Sri Lanka DF - How long have you been volunteering here? S - I started in November 2016. DF - How many students are there in the class that you teach? Do most of the children come every week? S- We usually have about 15 kids at our class, which is held every Saturday. There is another class at a settlement in Narahenpita on Sundays. The classes are two hours long and in addition to the music lessons, we play different music related exercises and games with the children. DF - Have you seen any positive changes in the relationships between the children or in their interest in the class? S- I definitely believe the program has had a positive impact on them. When they started, only a few of them knew each other, but now they are all good friends. They look forward to the classes and have reached a level of camaraderie where they play without worrying about making mistakes in front of one another. They have picked up many of the basic skills and they can all play at least a few songs. They look forward to the next class, which is a good sign, as they seem to want to learn. This is a good first step I think. DF - What else do you think can be done? Are there any ideas you have that you think would be good for the class or the children? S - The children and their families appreciate these classes and are happy to continue. I think if this program could be arranged at more settlements around the city, we can really make a positive difference in more people's lives. DF – Do you have any other thoughts and ideas on the initiative? S - It is a pleasure to be a part of this initiative. It helps develop the kids’ skills and their ability to perform while keeping them away from any negative influences that they may come across at the settlements. They are such good and happy children. I hope more people will volunteer at least once at a programme like this so that they can see things from a different perspective. I think working with the kids has helped me become a better and happier person. I would also like to thank you for supporting initiatives such as this.
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