Since January 2015, the Playing For Change Foundation has been working in the slums of Mirpur District of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to provide music education to underprivileged children. In this district, 32% of residents live below the national poverty line of $2 per day and child malnutrition rates are 48%. Illiteracy rates are among the highest in the world.
Free and adapted music classes and music performances are being integrated into the curriculum of three existing education centers which are locally run by our program partner SpaandanB. The organization sprouted from the vision of a handful of expatriate Bangladeshi in 1998, and it is dedicated to better the lives of the less advantaged people in Bangladesh. SpaandanB initiates and implements projects in the areas of education, health care, and promotion of sustained subsistence. Approximately 950 children aged 5 to 12 years old are being served by this program.
Two teachers provide nearly 100 hours of music instruction per month. Children are being taught musicalization, rhythm exercises, and traditional songs. In addition to music instruction, interdisciplinary work is being introduced using music to help students improve vocabulary, reading and pronunciation.
VIDEO OVERVIEW: TAKE A VISIT AT THE MIRPUR MUSIC PROGRAM
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY
Located North East of Dakah, Mirpur has over 1 million inhabitants and contains many slums and poor areas, but is also where the Grameen Bank (Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunu's microfinance organization) has its headquarters.
950 weekly students
50% of girls
3 staff members
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>Introduction to Music,
rhythm and melodyElementary music classes destined to kids
between 5 and 12 years old provide an initiation to music
for young kids in order to prepare them to be able to sing
and practice a musical instrument.

TEAM ON THE GROUND
SUPPORT THIS PROJECT
Donate an instrument that will be purchased locally and donated to the program
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$100x1 = $100CHOOSE QUANTITYx3 = $300x5 = $500Let's do it!ACOUSTIC GUITAR
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$160x1 = $160CHOOSE QUANTITYx3 = $480x5 = $800Let's do it!KEYBOARD
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$80x1 = $80CHOOSE QUANTITYx3 = $240x5 = $400Let's do it!UKULELE