2006 recipient:

The State Foundation for the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela (FESNOJIV)

Selected by William H. Luers , International Advisor

The State Foundation for the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela (FESNOJIV) was originally founded in 1975 by Venezuela’s former Minister of Culture, José Antonio Abreu. Its main aim is to recruit children from lower-income Venezuelan families and educate them through the playing and performance of classical music both individually and as part of an orchestra. Today, 250,000 children from as young as 2 and a half upwards participate in the program and as many as 210 orchestras have been established throughout the country as a result. With the conviction that music can turn adversity into hope and save children from crime, the FESNOJIV provides free musical instruments to children and teaches them according to their age and ability. Those children with outstanding talent are given the opportunity to join the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela where they are also provided with housing and a salary. Although Venezuela is one of the foremost petroleum exporting nations, it is also one of the most crime-ridden countries in South America and 50% of the population lives in poverty. However, not a single child participating in the program has ever been arrested. Martha Argerich, Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, Krzysztof Penderecki, Mstislav Rostropovich and other artists who sympathize with the aims of the FESNOJIV have traveled to Caracas to teach and perform with these youngsters. Similar initiatives are now being started in other Latin American countries.