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The Creation Youth Orchestra In Cite Soleil, Haiti

Updated March 21, 2015 9:41 AM
Pastor Jean Enock founded the "Occide Jeanty Music Academy" in Cité Soleil in 2006. Cité Soleil is an extremely impoverished and densely populated commune located in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area with an estimated 200,000 people. It was the place where the pastor was born, grew up and spent most part of his life to set up a "Haitian Youth Orchestra" -- the dream of his life. He started with nothing to open up an "alternative paths" to steer away local youths from gangs and violence. His dream took ten years to take shape. Most of the residents of Cite Soleil are unemployed. A majority of Cite Soleil residents are children. 'Youth Orchestra In Cite Soleil' now functions in three locations, give lessons to over 250 students on wind, string, and percussion instruments and they perform in a chamber orchestra, a symphonic band. The students come from extremely impoverished backgrounds; contribute a nominal fee to participate in the program under a small team of part time teachers.

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The objective of Youth Orchestra in Cite Soleil is not to develop a perfect ability to play a musical instrument, but to perform and be applauded for it. The community with its involvement in the concert, the only important artistic event in the community, has become a source of pride for the community, for the parents, and for the children who participate. They have reported substantial improvements in their children's responsibility, punctuality and discipline after joining the group. They are planning to attract more private funding to expand in the future.

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