Review

▶ Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous country located in Central Asia. More than 90% of the country is made up of mountains, and it is a country of nomads who make their home in the grasslands. With the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the country became independent in 1991, but has not yet escaped its influence.

▶ Picture frame hanging on the wall of Kyrgyz music classroom

What does the Mona Lisa and Beethoven mean to children who have to starve even today if they cannot sell apples and apricots on the dirty, dusty roadside?

Korumdu village, Isykul Oblast, Kyrgyzstan

▶ Kyrgyzstan is a multi-ethnic country made up of about 80 ethnic groups. It is made up of Kyrgyz (66%), Uzbeks (14%), Russians (11%), Germans, Kazakhs, Tatars, Uighurs, Turks, etc. There are also about 20,000 Koreans living there (0.4% of the total population).

Children gather in a music classroom built in a renovated warehouse. I teach music to children who make a living here every day. We teach culture to children who are in urgent need of making a living.

Some neighborhood adults dislike this music class. This is because for those adults, children who are not even 10 years old are workers who have to go out and work and earn money. All elementary, middle, and high school students can attend this music school, but it is mostly young children. All children whose knuckles had grown even a little thicker went to work.

▶ Music class day! For this time, the children let go of the sadness of poverty for a moment.

“Go out and earn money when you have time to play such extravagant games!”

They say that the coin in front of you is more important than art or music. But you know that the most important things for these children are sharing, learning, and love.

▶ A very precious textbook! This old book is very precious to children who dream without giving up on their future through music.

▶ Music teacher: Aliyeva Kakken Kulovna

66-year-old Aliyeva Kakken Kulovna teaches piano. Teacher Turdumanbetova Altnai, the daughter of a piano teacher, teaches us the traditional instrument, Komus. I'm still barely learning basic nursery rhymes. This is because the economic level of music classes is still very low.

▶ Music teacher: Turdumanbetova Altnai

Children have endless possibilities. But these children are being ignored against all odds simply because they were born in a poor country.

▶ Hats worn by children when playing Comus

▶ Children playing traditional instruments. Since I'm going to take pictures, I put on the traditional clothes and hats I've saved and show off the skills I've learned.

I want to teach these children that there are things more precious and beautiful to people than a bowl of rice. Through this, WECA, the World Educational Cultural Aid, is working to help more children live creative lives with the desire to escape the cycle of poverty.

We ask for your active love and sharing.