Child's Play (India) Foundation

Child's Play (India) Foundation based in Goa, was established in 2009 after its founder Dr Luis Diaz experienced two extraordinary concerts at the BBC Proms in 2007, which featured the Soweto BuskAid String Ensemble (South Africa) and the Simon Bolívar Youth Orchestra (Venezuela). He was captivated by the El Sistema philosophy that had led to the creation of the latter, and how both these orchestras prove that music education among disadvantaged youth can produce spectacular results, whilst providing many benefits including social empowerment and self-worth.

Child's Play now has around 150 children learning violin, viola, cello, recorder, flute and choir. Some of the children have auditioned and gained admission into the apex music institution in Goa, the Kala Academy as well.

Child's Play also works with musicians in the wider community in various ways and has recently formed an ensemble, Camerata Child's Play, which has begun to offer concerts to the public on a regular basis.

In June 2014 a violin teacher from Child’s Play, Stefi Cruz, was invited to represent India and to play in concerts with the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra in London and Glasgow as part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

www.childsplayindia.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/stefi-cruz-to-represent-india-in-commonwealth-youth-orchestra-in-london-and-glasgow-2

Stefi Cruz is in the front row second on the left in this photo following a performance at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House.



The following year the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra invited two further violinists from Child’s Play – Syanna Fernandes and Chernoll Mendonca - to play with the orchestra in Commonwealth Week March 2015, which included a performance for HM The Queen at Marlborough House in London.

www.childsplayindia.wordpress.com/2015/02/22/childs-play-at-the-commonwealth-youth-orchestra-again




www.childsplayindia.org


Child's Play India Foundation