CREATE JOBS

The musicians of the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra practice for many hours each day, in between the many jobs they must take on in order to survive, because “it gives them more confidence, freedom, and feeling of contributing to a collective endeavor” – Armand Diangienda, Conductor. By giving these self-taught musicians the fundamentals they lacked in their initial training, they will become credible teachers who can make a living using their craft.

CONNECT WORK & PASSION

By supporting these musicians by giving them the confidence to teach, we can connect their passion to a means for survival and aid them to have more independence, sense of achievement, and hope for a better life. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

By investing in this thriving community, we can highlight and transfer the positive parts of Congolese culture to the rest of Kinshasa, extending it far beyond the current members of the orchestra. Supporting the local musicians in their roles as mentors and leaders will not only help create a self-sustained music program, but will lead these musicians to have greater social impacts in the wider community.

COUNTERBALANCE & EMPOWERMENT

Music and the arts have always been used as means for an emotional outlet. Music can help us cope by engaging in our emotions rather than avoiding them or acting out in revenge. The disciplined creativity necessary to play classical music also allows us to engage both the critical and empathetic thinking pathways in our brain, leading to a heightened sense of control. This control leads to empowerment, which will have positive social impacts on the greater community.