Project Launch:

Reque, Peru is a cozy coastal town in Northern Peru rich in culture, but Reque has seen a decrease in musical and artistic participation in the community over the years. Even though Reque is still known for its great bands and music, in earlier years it was the center for musical expression in the region. These days the bands are all on the road and much of Reque’s remaining talent is undiscovered. Dance and music experts can’t find students who can afford their rates and are therefore left to work in other areas for economic reasons. Youth also suffer, because there is no way for them to learn the music and dances, because they can’t afford programming. With a grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program in 2011, social-minded instructors and interested youth were organized to work together to bring the music back to Reque. Traditional Peruvian dance and music lessons were offered to all interested youth in the community from instructors who were willing to work for a portion of their regular rates. Grant funding supported stipends to instructors, costumes, and instruments. This project attracted instructors who were interested in sharing their talent with the community’s youth and all youth willing to participate actively in this grand cultural opportunity. As a result, a great deal of talent was discovered in Reque.