Road Trip 2018 Kigali - Best Future from Today

Since the beginning of 2018 we have been able to win another new partner for our musical project work in the capital Kigali with the organization Best Future from Today (short BFT). BFT is the social-cultural working branch of the Presbyterian Church in Kigali, with its own music department.
On the occasion of this new partnership, a team traveled to Kigali in March 2018 to make the first contacts and get to know the organization better. We are happy that we have found a dedicated leader of BFT at our side in Epimaque Munyankindi! Our team consisted of the violinist Isa Halme, the opera singer Tiina Sinkkonen, the pianist Dominik Brühwiler and the Crescendo International directors Beat and Airi Rink. During this time, violin, voice and piano workshops for children, teenagers and young adults took place. The interest in these courses was very big. Both, the level as well as the music styles that were taught were mixed motley. A final concert rounded off this intense time. At the same time, we were able to deepen our new relationships with key players in the field of music. BFT also has well-functioning infrastructure and premises, which is ideal for future lessons, courses and rehearsals.

Violin Kids

We are also particularly pleased that the simultaneously launched project "Violin Kids" under the direction of Isa Halme has found a great response and we are happy that we came to Kigali with enough children's violins (sponsored by a project among immigrant children in Basel). In the project Violin Kids, children can gather their first experiences on the violin in weekly group lessons , free of charge. They will be guided by a suitable teacher.

Our Hope - BFT / Kigali 2019

At the beginning of January, the same team, supplemented by Letizia Walser (music school principal and pianist), will once again travel to Kigali. The focus is on training key players of BFT in music theory and instrumental knowledge, as well as organizing different teaching options.
It is very important to us to recognize, promote and train talents and abilities. This should also create space for self-motivation and self-responsibility. It is good that our concept of help for self-help is already bearing fruits. For example, Rwandans musicians we teached have already their own pupils and can thus earn an income.