The Foundation for Partnership and Civil Society Development

El Sistema in Istria

Location: Croatia
Project value: 92,114.70 Eur
Lead Partner: System of Children and Youth Orchestras - El Sistema Croatia (SO DO - El Sistema Croatia)
Donors: EU / Programme: IPA 2012 Encouraging innovative forms of philanthropy in local communities to support the sustainability of civil society organizations, Croatian Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs
Duration: 23/11/2015 - 23/05/2017

The overall objective is to promote innovative forms of philanthropy as a mechanism for sustainable work of civil society organizations aimed at solving social problems. It is an international model El Sistema (ES) that uses music as a tool for the proper adoption of social values. Specific objectives are increasing awareness about the programme El Sistema as a social program for children and young people, creating a network of associates and local ES centers, called nucleus, empowering organizations in Istria to solve social problems by creating several nucleus and create a platform that will put pressure for a change in the tax law to support donations.

Venezuelan in its origins but today a global programme El Sistema has spread to Croatia  and hosted the first workshop El Sistema in Croatia in July 2014 in Pula, when an orchestra of80 children from across the country was created working under the direction of music experts and educators. The program is based on principles, values, philosophy and methodology of El Sistema in Venezuela and uses music as a tool to adopt social values ​​and enrich the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of children and youth. The structure of the orchestra symbolizes a society and balanced social relationships so children and young people are taught solidarity, teamwork, discipline, mutual listening, cooperation, mutual assistance, encouragement and respect, and respect for diversity.

In the first phase of the project activities will focus on the presentation of the principle and potential El Sistema offers, informative events, press conferences aimed at the general public to get familiarized with the ES model. Interested organizations and individuals will be introduced with the model in hope they will apply the model themselves to ensure sustainability. Two nucleus will be opened and within those children will be placed in the context of diversity which creates social cohesion. In order to develop a culture of giving, a pressure group will put pressure for changes in legislations to support donations.