Under Construction, Coming Soon!

by Coming Soon

Check back soon for updates about the exciting classes taking place in this program.

Dilbahadur Sunar

Percussion teacher Hari Kul recently took in Dilbahadur, an orphan from a village west of the Kathmandu. Hari provides his education as well as music lessons. He notes this young man displayed a keen sense of rhythm immediately upon his first lesson. Eager to ask questions Dilbahadur gratefully absorbs everything his new teacher has to share.

New Clothes and Shoes for Students in Lalitpur

by William Aura

Music Program Administrator Ishor Bajracharya has delivered new school clothing and shoes to surprised music students Dilbahadur Sunar, Bhuvan Magar & Pushpa Shrestha.

PFCF Embarks on Journey to Nepal

by Shauna Murray

PFCF Asian Program Coordinator, William Aura, has set out on his annual journey to Nepal.  Over the eight weeks of his travels, he will be visiting and working with the Mitrata Nepal Music Program in Kathmandu, the Hari Kul Music School in Lalitpur, and the Tintale Village Teaching Center.  The dedicated students and teachers of these programs have made great strides since the last PFCF visit, and we are eager to see their progress continue.

State of Nirvana Part 1

by William Aura

Nameste to you my dear friends. I have arrived in Kathmandu safe and sound. What a great joy it is to be back in this amazing country as a representative for the Playing for Change Foundation and the Aura Imports Sponsorship Project. There is important work to do and it will be my pleasure to update you as this collective effort unfolds.

State of Nirvana Part 2

by William Aura

Our first assignment is most pleasurable. All the gear is packed and loaded. The expanding entourage is off to visit Nanda Kulu and her marvelous kids at Mitrata Nepal. Mitrata has quickly become our most proficient music program in Nepal. The teachers and staff our extraordinary compassionate beings. They lovingly take care and protect over 100 orphaned and abandoned children. I’ve grown quite fond of the place. Just can’t seem to get enough of the vibes here. The children are an absolute delight and I am becoming close with a number of them. The desire displayed to learn music is frankly unmatched by anything I have ever seen. I’m uncertain who benefits more from our developing relationship - them or us. We are blessed by such a connection.

State of Nirvana Part 3

by William Aura

Oh boy. Here it goes. It’s Sunday morning and a contentious strike, locally known as a bandh, is called throughout Nepal. Everything shuts down. No taxi, no cyber café, no going anywhere. After the Maoist 10-year ‘People’s War’ to dethrone King Gyanendra ended, we all thought these depilating demonstrations were a thing of the past. Now Nepal’s Maoist party, back in power this year, has begun to reap the turmoil they sowed with other protesting groups calling general strikes one after another. For example, Nepal’s elite warrior community known as the Chhetris, have ruled the country in the past. And today they brought life in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur to a grinding halt demanding they be recognized as an indigenous community in the new constitution.

State of Nirvana Part 4

by William Aura

Thankfully the following morning is beautifully bright and all seems normal for now. Ah yes, the strike is over. Usually I wake up at 4am or so and get all the production gear prepared for the day. My number one Ishor joins me and we are off to navigate the burgeoning Kathmandu streets. We have a full day of activities planned.

We Are One PART 1

by William Aura

It’s Tuesday the 24th and unexpectedly another national strike is called. Again all the taxis quickly become scarce. I take a hike to find a newspaper and catch what is happening. The front page of the Himalayan times says it all. U.N. secretary Ban Ki-moon warns that the Nepal peace process is at risk if the county’s rival leaders do not meet a looming deadline to agree on a new constitution. The deadline is this coming Saturday yet the bickering continues. After years spent on this critical issue there still is no agreement on the important issues that divide the parties, namely the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants and key aspects of the constitution. Maoist weapon caches are required to be handed over Saturday. That goal is looks increasingly unlikely. It breaks my heart to see this struggle continue.  No one wins until a middle way is found.

We Are One PART 3

by William Aura

We are scheduled for a bright and early 7am music program session with Hari Kul. Ishor arrives at 6am to offer his support. Our equipment is organized and a taxi hailed. Upon arrival at the shop we are both quite surprised to see it is closed. We look around back and see his son getting ready to leave on his motorcycle. “What’s up?” we ask. The son’s pained face says it all. “There has been a death in the family. My relative died last night in her sleep and my father is helping to make arrangements.” Expressing our condolences we ask him to pass on to Hari that he and his family are in our prayers.

Spirit in the Room PART 2

by William Aura

Frankly I am absolutely exhausted. I usually attribute that to my advanced age, but I can see Ishor is tuckered out also. Traveling around Kathmandu and the outskirts of city do take a toll on ones energy. It may be the altitude also, but my back and feet ache from carrying this heavy gear. Yet there is an emerging sense of deep satisfaction that we are getting the necessary elements to share this amazing story with you.

Spirit in the Room PART 3

by William Aura

Hari is exited to show us the progress on the new music rooms recently rented by the foundation. This will most certainly allow him the ability to expand his student base. With a great sense of pride he takes us upstairs to show us his new working space. Hari is profoundly grateful for this opportunity. He has previously been quite limited with what he can do in the cramped quarters that primarily serves as a drum-making studio and music shop. There are times where I can hardly find a place to stand. Expanding his space is opening his mind in a new and dramatic way. I can see the twinkle in his eye as he again expresses a deep gratitude to PFCF for this marvelous gift. We also make arrangements to order ten new instruments for his students. The melodica, also known as the ‘blow-organ’ or ‘key-flute’, is a free-reed instrument similar to a harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. These kids would never be able to afford one of these without our support. They will without a doubt be warmly received.