Our Team in El Salvador

Why did I decide to be part of the project?

I decided to participate in the project because through music I saw the opportunity to help my communities and country. After the civil war, appropriate psychological treatment for those affected didn’t exist in El Salvador. The government is doing nothing to improve the situation in our country. It seems like they don’t care about education, agriculture and arts and these are some of the reasons we have problems with the gangs – problems that have brought death and pain to thousands of families in El Salvador. When I look at all of these problems, sometimes I want to leave this country but I stay because I believe that through projects like Music for Hope we can make significant changes in our society. Thanks to this project we are working in violence prevention and teaching good values to our children in the Bajo Lempa communities. That is why I decided to be part of this wonderful project.

What do I like about the project?

• IThis project really seeks to benefit the communities of the bajo Lempa.

• Despite the economic limitations, the benefits can be seen and heard.

• It is a project with its own identity that is evolving and adapting to the real needs that arise in our community.

• There is a good work environment where the teacher has the opportunity to be creative and adopt the methodology that seems best.

• Although I’ve not met the team of English and Catalan collaborators, I know they want the best for my country as I do. Together, all the teams work together for a better El Salvador.

What is your role in the project?

I work as a psychology professional. I promote the importance of mental health care, and I support the teachers in the process of teaching in order to develop learning methods attractive and understandable for the children. I also support other activities that benefit the children.

Why did you decide to get involved with Music for Hope?

My main motivation is that it is an opportunity to work in my chosen professional area, which is education. During my training I discovered that it was an area that attracted me a lot, but in our country educational psychology has not been an institutional priority, leaving the responsibility to NGOs for its development. Educational psychology is an area that has remained in the background of mental health care. So I was motivated to be part of the Music for Hope project, with the goal of contributing through psychology with my work at the music centres. I know it’s an important challenge but this motivates me to support the boys and girls in the project.

What do you like most about the project??

I like the effort that each one of the members of this project makes to bring hope and life boys and girls of this project. Music has been an important element of the work around healing trauma in children, as well as helping them to express ideas and experiences that sometimes cannot be expressed. Music gives them an alternative way of letting others know how they feel.

I’ve learned a lot from this project and the work they carry out to support children.

Why did you decide to get involved with Music for Hope?

It’s because I can share my knowledge with the children and that brings to me great satisfaction. I enjoy helping those children who have an interest in music and want to learn to play a musical instrument. This project was the first project that gave me the opportunity to become a music teacher, so I really value it. It’s excellent!

What do I like about the project?

• We have a really good relationship between the teachers and the coordinator.

• There’s always space to talk about different issues.

• I like how each teacher uses different methodologies to achieve their goals despite the obstacles that everyone faces in the communities. We always show good results to the communities.
•  There’s a really good relationship between the team in the UK and the team in El Salvador. Without their help we couldn’t help so many children in the Bajo Lempa.