Spotlight on partnerships: Harmony Kenya Foundation
Be inspired by the Kenyan charitable foundation that has been transforming music education in a Nairobi primary school with support from our international Play On fund.
Harmony Kenya Foundation supports the delivery of high-quality music education in Kenya’s government schools, either by establishing new music departments or by providing support for existing ones. Donating teaching and learning resources, providing tutors and trainers, building capacity for more teachers and learners, and connecting learners to further opportunities, locally and internationally, are just some of the ways they do this.
Last year we awarded the foundation a grant from our Play On fund which they used to support a pilot project at Westlands School in Nairobi. This was the first time they had worked with a primary school, introducing music education to young learners in a way that complements and enriches Kenya’s new Competency Based Curriculum with its major emphasis on music.
The impact on the project has been felt throughout the school which has around 1,600 pupils. Classroom music theory and recorder lessons have cultivated musical skills and fostered a sense of collaboration, discipline and self-expression. Lessons in violin, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, ukulele and keyboard have inspired pupils, while training has empowered teachers and ensured a sustainable future for music education at the school. Finally, the purchase of blackboards with manuscript lines, four keyboards, 50 recorders and a computer has helped to create a vibrant and well-equipped music department and an environment where pupils and music can flourish.
For Wayne Mecha, Administrator at Harmony Kenya Foundation , the project has “not only enriched the curriculum, but also ignited a spark of creativity in young minds that will continue to burn brightly. Together, we are creating a symphony of change that resonates with pupils, enriching their lives through the magic of music.”
This year, the foundation has ambitious plans for the music department, including the refurbishment of the school’s pianos, purchase of more musical instruments, a recruitment drive for more tutors and an enhanced performance programme for students.
Watch our short film about Play On featuring the Harmony Kenya Foundation.
