Hundreds of children have been saved from violence that permeates the slums of the city of Tijuana.Many of them immigrant children that live in areas known for their high crime rates, high impact murders and widespread drug dealing.

Since 2010, in the most dangerous streets in Tijuana, it's not all insecurity, it's not only "Narco corridos", Songs that praise the exploits of drug dealers, that you hear, and it's because since 2010 the Foundation for Musical Arts has been working with Baja California's Orchestra to promote the program "Redes 2025".

Redes, is a musical education project conformed by 3 orchestras, where over 700 children from the marginalized neighborhoods have participated, children who didn't have access to music nor to the classrooms where these classes are traditionally imparted in.

The musical groups are located in neighborhoods like Granjas Familiares, Mariano Matamoros, Valle Vista, and Libertad, Areas considered as marginalized, according to former delegate of the Secretary of social development, Carlos Torres Torres.

"They found themselves in cases that ranged from broken homes to violence, people who where about to move because of the insecurity that reigned in their neighborhoods" Carlos Torres Torres Recalls.

It was because of this that at the end of 2009, The Foundation for Musical Arts created the orchestra "Red Cerro Colorado", in the area of Cerro colorado, one of the zones with highest number of immigrant population in Baja California; afterward "Do Re Mi" made up of 4 neighborhoods, and "Rio Nuevo" in the city of Mexicali.

Now, Around 700 children from these communities, all around 10-15 years of age, are playing instruments like the violin, the oboe, the clarinet and the piano, they have been presented with the orchestra in national concerts, and have been awarded with the recognition "Vivir mejor en la ciudad 2012" (Living better in the city 2012) in the category of most social impact.

The foundation maintains the project thanks to the generous donations from sponsors, because the cost for each of the orchestras is around 1.5 million pesos. Alma Delia Abrego, Director for the Foundation for Musical Arts, Admits that it's complicated, even though she considers that the orchestras have already begun to change the social structure of these neighborhoods.

Alma Delia Abrego says to sponsors: "If you want to leave East Lake and come back to Tijuana, or get robed less, you have to invest in your city, and 'Redes 2025' can be a good choice...".

Eduardo Gacria Barrios, headmaster for the project "Redes 2025" who was also named national director for Musical encouragement, revealed that this year the neighborhood orchestra model will be promoted throughout México, just as it was in Baja California.

"We will be replicating the model that the Foundation for Musical Arts developed in the past few years in Tijuana. We're looking for a way to implement this type of system of neighborhood musical groups" he explains.

He also added: "it's because in these vulnerable places that investing resources and the collective practice of music will contribute to rebuild and fortify the social structure. Like a kind of network of musical groups and orchestras"

Mexican states like Chihuahua, Morels, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon and indigenous communities alike are beginning to create systems of community music programs, just like it was done with the children in Tijuana. Eduardo Garcia Barrios knows that even though it will not end the problems of the world, it will help to mend and transform the human spirit.

"We know that music will not end the violence, but it does create both a space and a way to help change the communities lives"

To contact or

donate to the Foundation for Musical Arts of Baja California you can call 01152-664-984-0182.

Laura.Sanchez@sandiegored.com

Daniel.Aguilar@sandiegored.com