The World is a Gift in Motion

Robin Wall Kimmerer, In Braiding Sweetgrass writes:

     “For the greater part of human history, and in places in the world today,              common resources were the rule.  But some invented a different story, a            social construct in which everything is a commodity to be bought and sold.       The market economy story has spread like wildfire, with uneven results for        human well-being and devastation for the natural world.  But it is just a story      we have told ourselves and we are free to tell another, to reclaim the old            one.

     One of these stories sustains the living systems        on which we depend.  One of these stories              opens the way to living in gratitude and                    amazement at the richness and generosity of the      world.  One of these stories asks us to                      bestow our own gifts in kind, to celebrate our            kinship with the world.  We can choose.  If all the      world is a commodity, how poor we grow.  When      all the world is a gift in motion, how wealthy we        become.”

I took a break from reading the beautifully written Braiding Sweetgrass to pick up emails.  I found one from Playing for Change that seemed to speak to the quote above.

Playing for Change not only creates and records intercultural music as a means for creating peace but it also has a Foundation that supports music schools in various countries.  Mark Johnson, Co-founder of Playing for Change writes, "The Playing For Change Foundation was born out of our first experience visiting the township of Gugulethu, South Africa 10 years ago. We learned music is the greatest tool we have to provide hope, joy and inspiration to the next generation and that together we can change our world, one heart and one song at a time."

The Playing for Change website says that most residents of Gugulethu do manual work in nearby Cape Town or in the Township itself. Gugulethu means “ our pride” in Xhosa.   Apartheid had a devastating impact on the community and they are still rebuilding from that time.  After ten years of success, Playing for Change is expanding the music program in this township.  “With drugs, crime, poverty, and disease prevalent in the township, the Imvula Music Program will offer even greater hope and possibility for the community and its youth.” 

Poppy Tsira, one of the founders of Imvula

The Imvula program will now take place in 4 different schools with a larger and more diverse group of children taught by six talented teachers. The children will learn guitar, vocals, drums, saxophone, keyboard, marimba and dance.

People and musicians around the world donate time, talent and funds to Playing for Change who can then share this gift of music with the children.  As the children make music, they share with one another and give their musical gifts to all who listen.  And then, just as Robin Wall Kimmerer says,” When all the world is a gift in motion, how wealthy we become.”

You can see a video of the kids in the Imvula Program here.  Share in the wealth!