A group of teenagers playing instruments made from trash found on a landfill in Asuncion, Paraguay is coming to Canada to raise funds to create a better future for their community.

Global Family Foundation, a Canadian Christian charity, is hosting The Recycled Orchestra for a cross-Canada tour this April and May with events in churches in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C.

The tour will raise awareness and funds to build a Community Education Centre in Cateura, home of The Recycled Orchestra and considered one of the poorest slums in South America.

More than 2,500 families live directly by the landfill, picking garbage to find sellable or recyclable goods.

But in the middle of the rubble lies hope.

Turning metal drums, oil cans, spoons, copper pipes, wire and bottle caps into cellos, violins, guitars and flutes, The Recycled Orchestra is proving that despite their circumstances, the community has something beautiful to offer.

After a documentary crew posted an online trailer of The Recycled Orchestra last year, the video went viral.

 “The world sends us music, but we send back music,” says Favio Chavez, director of the orchestra.

“People are starting to realize that you shouldn’t throw away trash carelessly. Now, they starting to realize that you shouldn’t throw away people either.”

After meeting with stakeholders and families in Cateura, Global Family Foundation has committed to co-invest with the community to build a Community Education Centre and start a scholarship fund so youth in the area have a have a chance to get a quality education.

The center will act as a social hub in the neighbourhood, offering workshops and courses to families to improve education, family life and livelihoods.

It will also have space for The Recycled Orchestra to practice and offer music classes for children interested in learning an instrument.

The long-term goal is to partner with the Cateura community to build a school, since there is a dire need for access to quality education.

“Talent is evenly distributed, no matter your circumstance, but opportunity is not,” says Mike Duerksen from Global Family Foundation.

“This is about creating opportunity for an incredibly resourceful and resilient community that is living on the margins. Helping their children get a quality education will not only improve their economic situation, but it will also allow them re-invest into their families and community to start breaking the cycle of inherited generational poverty.”

All concerts are free of charge, with a freewill donation going toward the construction of the Community Education Centre and scholarship fund.

Concert Dates

Steinbach, MB – Wednesday, April 30th
Steinbach Mennonite Church
345 Loewen Blvd., Steinbach
7:00 p.m.

Winkler, MB – Friday, May 2nd
Winkler MB Church
120 Pineview Drive, Winkler
7:00 p.m.

Winnipeg, MB- Saturday, May 3rd
Westwood Community Church
401 Westwood Drive, Winnipeg
7:00pm

Winnipeg, MB – Sunday, May 4th
With the MBCI Concert Band
North Kildonan MB Church
1315 Gateway Road, Winnipeg
7:00 p.m.