SUBJECT BACKGROUND
AL COMPAZ
Bogotá, Colombia is a city of extremes. Years of drug trafficking, government coups, and other crime-related issues have created a large socioeconomic divide between communities, people, and the resources that are accessible by those parties. The country does not have a great deal of resources, therefore many low-income children are particularly unable to access programs and avenues that will allow them to escape the confines of poverty.
Al ComPAZ was founded by Natalia Jiménez in December 2015. During her tenure as a Piano student in the Conservatory of the National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Ms. Jiménez was inspired to create Al ComPAZ in order to provide an opportunity for students in underserved and under-resourced Bogotá communities to cultivate their musical talents. Students involved in Al ComPAZ live in some of the most dangerous and segregated neighborhoods in the city, which includes one of the world’s largest mega slums, and are exposed to elevated levels of gang activity, violence, and drug use each day (Davis, 2006). Bogotá also suffers from high rates of income inequality—average income for the richest 10% of households is 28 times greater than that of the poorest 10%—and many children in the city are extremely underserved (El Tiempo, 2006). Al ComPAZ strives to combat this inequality by using music as a vehicle for social inclusion, building student skill sets such as respect, teamwork, discipline, and identity.
Al ComPAZ is a subsidiary of Somos CaPAZes, a Colombian nonprofit organization that strives to achieve peace through play-oriented activities. Somos CaPAZes was founded in 2007 by a group of young people inspired by the success of two North American-based organizations, Peace Games (U.S.A.) and Peace by PEACE (Canada), which specialize in conflict resolution and community-building for elementary school students (Peace by Peace, 2018). As of June 2017, Somos CaPAZes serves approximately 1,730 children, works with 52 communities in Colombia, and has served 10,300 people since its inception ten years ago.
Somos CaPAZes believes in using social activities and play as a vehicle to achieve peace in disadvantaged communities. Basic pedagogical principles for the program include experiential learning and play-based activities, and emphasizing creativity, individuality, and teamwork. Their activities cover a variety of socially-oriented topics, including transformational leadership, human rights, and female empowerment. Somos CaPAZes relies on a large network of volunteers to help carry out their activities, and they advertise specific work assignments for potential volunteers to attract people with specialized skill sets or interest in certain activities. Volunteer work assignments include programmatic implementation (teaching students and assisting with program logistics), journalism (advertising the program through print and social media), and music teaching for Al ComPAZ. Students and volunteers can also select the programs and/or communities they are most passionate about working with.
Al ComPAZ is currently located in three communities in Bogotá: Ciudad Bolívar (Barrio de La Escala), El Codito, and Bosa. Students are provided free instrumental and choral instruction 1–2 times per week, depending on the site, and positive social skills education is consistently woven into the curriculum. In 2016–2017, Al ComPAZ reached 59 students (31 girls and 28 boys ages 5–16) and between May 2017 and July 2017 provided a combined total of 36 music classes to the sites. Students in Al ComPAZ attend programming in the neighborhoods where they live and, other than in El Codito, activities are hosted within existing social service facilities such as churches and community centers. The combination of consistent curricular activities and an attentive, caring instructor has created a positive atmosphere and safe space for children to express themselves through music.
Al ComPAZ’s programming has been widely dependent on the types of instruments that are donated to the organization. At present, there are two levels of programming: Basic (primarily Orff instruments and melodicas) and Advanced (wind instruments—saxophone, clarinet, recorder, and choir). Basic programming is offered once per week at all sites, and Advanced programming twice per week at one site: Ciudad Bolívar. During programming, instructors are asked to use specific language to help students understand the connections between music and “life skills.” For example, at the end of each class instructors have the students reflect on what they have learned both musically and socially.
Al ComPAZ has a staff of two individuals: Ms. Jiménez (Director of Programming and Development) and David Mendoza (Lead Music Teacher). Ms. Jiménez, also the program’s founder, has been with the organization since the beginning, with Mr. Mendoza joining the team within a year of its inception. Ms. Jiménez is, as aforementioned, a graduate of the National University of Colombia, Bogotá (Piano Performance) and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Arts Administration at New York University. Mr. Mendoza is a professional saxophone player with many years of teaching experience in a variety of institutions, including small private studios, music stores, and universities in Bogotá.
The program relies heavily on donations to maintain its current operational status. At present Al ComPAZ’s revenue streams include individual donations, corporate sponsorship (Whitman, a high-end men’s clothing boutique in Bogotá, is their main benefactor), sales from concert tickets, and financial support from Somos CaPAZes (totaling 20% of Al ComPAZ’s total revenue). Given that all instruments have been donated in-kind to the program, curricular decisions revolve around which types of instruments they have received—hence the strong clarinet and saxophone presence at Ciudad Bolivar.