WITHOUT WORDS ...

THIS IS SOCIAL SYMBIOSIS

The 20th. of May is going to be a date to celebrate; the first shipment of instruments from SINEM arrived to Pochote. This is the first of three programed shipments for this year. A truck loaded with dreams opened its doors releasing bunches of boxes containing violins, cellos, basses, wind and percussion instruments as well as plenty of office equipment.

The expectations of the children were fulfilled once they opened the packages, their big smiles being the first product of the effort behind the SINEM-HARMONY alliance.

Many of our little ones now can count on having an instrument for their personal use, to continue growing, to continue learning , to continue dreaming through music.

In the coming weeks and coinciding with the second delivery of the Instruments we will host the official opening of the program in the presence of Dr.Oscar Arias Sanchez, the President of the Republic, the Minister of Culture, and Ricardo Vargas the General Director of SINEM.

This adventure started two years ago; little by little and thanks to the support of Harmony Developments and in particular Donald Thomson and his wife Terry-Lee together with a group of "dreamers" the project has been growing. It wasn't that long ago that it took its first steps with the help of just one violin and one Cello, the personal instruments of our teachers Jorge and Jenny. Then one by one they appeared....another violin...a cello....a keyboard...this is how we started down our path.

Today, thanks to the support of SINEM our first instruments will begin a journey that will put them in the hands of other girls and boys but this time in Africa, in a small village in Tanzania called Kitonga.

There to a school founded by our friends from the charity Heart to Heart Africa.

We hope that in the near future, like the instruments, some of our students can begin a journey to meet their new friends"RAFIKI" (in swahili) sharing their experiences, but above all share the internal MUSIC in their hearts. THIS IS SOCIAL SYMBIOSIS

THE FLOWER OF THE POCHOTE ...DR. OSCAR ARIAS SANCHEZ

November 24, 2008 . HARMONY MUSIC SCHOOL . POCHOTE

'' I am at a loss of words to describe how moved I felt upon learning of the existence of the Harmony Conservatory on Playa Pochote. The idea of children and youths making their way through the dusty streets, mangroves and fields, by foot or boat, bicycle or horse-back, to attend a school where they may learn to play a musical instrument, practice a sport, or make a painting, filled me with faith in the human spirit. Sometimes the most beautiful flowers grow in the deepest place of the forest, where the trees are thick with thorns.

It is curious that this school be located precisely in Playa Pochote. The pochote tree has always attracted my attention because of its aggressive, thorny bark. It would seem that the pochote tree would scorn the things around it, and would not allow other living things to climb amongst its branches. The thorns that grow on its trunk make me think of the kind of life many of these youths have had to face, a life in where poverty, lack of opportunities and frustration would cause thorns to grow around their hearts, causing them to push away others and build their own separate worlds filled with resentment and pain, like pochote trees that grow side by side without ever touching.,

But if we look beyond the thorny trunk, we will see the birds and squirrels that nest in its branches, the flowers in summer bloom, and the wind that plays amongst its boughs. Then we will see that life is possible despite the thorns, that if we but climb a bit higher and reach a little further, we will find a better reality.

This is what the teachers of the Conservatory have accomplished. They have planted a pochote flower in the hearts of the children. They have brought beauty, joy, life and enthusiasm to a town that is already much different than a few short years ago. They have looked beyond the circumstances, beyond the obstacles. That is the difference between average people and dreamers: most people see the world only as it is, while some see it as it could be. And who can help but dream in the presence of Art?

Even from the estuary that at this beach meets the Pacific, one can envision the contours of the Danube described by Strauss in his waltz. Even the tide pools and eddies evoke Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and in the exotic flowers and verdant colors of the tropical summer, one can almost hear the notes of Vivaldi's Primavera. To be acquainted with the Arts is to live in all places, in all ages and cultures, in all societies and social stratus. Who knows art, knows no limitation other than their own imagination, they blossom beautifully despite the thorns and the obstacles.

The more boys and girls get the chance to softly lay their cheek to a violin; the more parents be filled with pride to watch their children playing in an orchestra; the more youths that can experience the discipline involved in art, as well as it miracles, the future of the country will be more just and filled with hope for all."

Musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic Want to Continue Supporting the National System of Musical Education and Harmony Music School

from La Nacion Newspaper

 Wolfgang Duenschede, flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, assured yesterday that he and his fellow musicians wish to be part of the effort called the Central American Youth Orchestra, for which they plan to return year after year to support. Duenschede is impressed with the results achieved after the first effort in 2008, for which he plans to continue supporting this project of the Ministry of Culture.

 Equally excited was Gabor Tarkoevi, trumpet player of the Berlin Philharmonic. After three hours of witnessing that which is happening in the country with the Central American Youth Orchestra, he assured that he was “surprised and enthusiastic.” For the trumpet player it is gratifying to see hundred of students, bright-eyed with satisfaction with the opportunity to play with the professional musicians. For his part, Wolfgang Duenschede stated that he was surprised by the advances made by the National System of Musical Education (Sinem, for its initials in Spanish). Despite being a governmental initiative, this project has made great progress.

 During this second visit to the country, the flutist insisted that the effort made by both the European musicians and the youth orchestra is yielding results. In 2008 the orchestra was made up of 95 young men and women; this year, that number has increased to 133. “We see the seed of our work growing. Also, Sinem opened more schools. I see success because we see young people... that is the spark that we need,” added Deunschede. For the European musicians, it is difficult to measure the influence of their work with these young people, because they know that the group is made up of young men and women with varying levels of experience and skill. But what is most important is for them is to see the children as a pyramid, with some students at the point and others at the base. Notable is the fact that they work together perfectly. As part of the effort to inspire the young students, the musicians will play with them in concerts this weekend. This experience, according to Tarkoevi, will be very special, because although the students aren't professionals, they perform with great energy, and as a result, they'll have the opportunity to play with like professional musicians.

 

Rotary Club Donates Computers

The first step was the internet connection, with wireless capability to connect the Music School to the internet. This is a reality in, thanks to the collaboration of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE, for its initials in Spanish). As part of the technology outreach program, promoted by Harmony Developments in the community of Pochote, we have received a donation of eight computers by Mr. Walt “Cosmo” Schaefer and the Rotary Club.

 This equipment will contribute to the technical and cultural enrichment of the population of Pochote and its neighboring communities, and will permit the opening of an internet café, “The Flower of Pochote” in our buildings. This service will be subsidized for our students, and open to the general public. Also offered will be copy and printing services, as well as international calls made by internet.

 Online education is now within reach for our children, and this window to the world will open to strengthen the process of education and communication for our students.

 The solidarity of our friend “Cosmo”, along with that of the Rotary Club, and the program of Social Symbiosis, proposed by Don Thompson and supported by the team of Harmony Developments, has made this dream possible.

 Happy surfing!

English Language Education

Thanks to the collaboration of Peace Corps, and especially of the professor Christine O'Neill, the program of English language education has begun with great success. Approximately 30 students already enjoy this benefit, another tool to assist them in reaching their goals and dreams. The dedication of the profe has been recognized by her students. This has been a great achievement, the product of effort and the hopes of improvement of each of the students. Throughout the year, these students have demonstrated that their dedication is worth the effort.

 

International Music Camp 2009 at Pochote Beach

This was the best way to begin 2009. Full of music, of talented young people, but above all, of the bonds of camaraderie and friendship. For our boys and girls this encounter was very important for their human and musical growth. The energy that flowed through Pochote in January will be unforgettable for all those that, in one form or another, made this first Pochote International Music Camp (CIM, for its initials in Spanish) possible.

 We should point out the arduous work of our dear cellist, Jenny Chevez, general director of the camp and music professor of the school, who with her unending energy and contagious smile gave life to this project. Jennita, thank you for sharing your vision... thank you for being part of the Harmony Family.

 

 

Mangroves, Ocean, and Cellos

“There are those that leave us with profound teachings: the same people who dispense their wisdom. I've been lucky to meet such people along my path. They submerge me in the everyday, affirming me as a habitant of a certain place and time.”

 Like many, Don Trino arrived in Pochote 54 years ago. The village already existed, but not as we know it today: a few houses, a few families, the ocean, the marsh, and the mangrove. This combination enchanted him.

 Large estates made up the zone, along with fishermen, farmers, and hard work.

 The school began in a  galerón, there classes were given, practically in the open air. The few children who attended did so after participating in the labors of the field, the fishing boat, and the home. They took their pencil and notebook, and a smile, and took the road towards the school.

 One day, a merchant boat began arriving to Puerto Pochote, where today we can still find the old bases which once supported the now old dock structure.

 The days in which the boat arrived became “market days.” Many arrived, others left, and purchases and trades could be seen all around. Carts, mules, and sacks transformed the peaceful environment of the tidal marsh... and of Pochote.

 For the children, these were days of celebration... dreaming of one day being able to travel in these boats to magical lands, to live the adventures of pirates and treasures and distressed princesses needing to be rescued.

 They observed how the boat approached, first as a speck on the horizon which began to define itself with its different forms and colors. The “speck” slide across the peaceful waters of the marsh emitting a deafening noise.

 Children, women and men; sacks and wooden crates; hens, pigs, and dogs... These sights gave form to a scene which could only mean one things.... The boat had arrived!

 And with this event, life in Pochote began to change.

 The access road to the dock served initially to establish the “urban design,” the basis of the community. Two strings of houses began to appear on either side of the street, most of which were constructed of wood and palm-thatched roofs. The facades of the houses characterized the activities of its inhabitants. Without the danger of the passing cars and trucks, children played in the street as an extension of their gardens. And from the street, to the pastures; from the pastures to the mangrove, to the marsh, and to the ocean.

 The settlers of Pochote did not all come from the same place, Puntarenas, Alajuela, San Jose...., however today they belong to Pochote, this is there home, and like Don Trino, they're made of mangrove and of ocean.

 Pochote is a small town in the northern part of the Ballena Bay. What differentiates Pochote from other coastal settlements is the fact that Pochote is practically found on the water. It is the home of fishermen, of agricultural workers, and of tourists. It's an ideal site, given the natural conditions present: a rich mangrove, a tidal marsh of incredible beauty, a rich biodiversity, and a beach comprised of soft, grey sand and transparent waters. The ocean forms an estuary which has radically changed the local flora y fauna. Some areas have become marshy wetlands, which serve as a natural laboratory for the restoration of various species of wild bird, fish, mollusks, and flora.

 It is the point of departure for fishing, sports fishing, or simple excursions in boat, which interrupt the emerald tones of the water where the marsh meets the mangrove.

 Pochote does not have an adequate touristic infrastructure. It is, however, an obligatory destination, to taste the local cuisine (particularly seafood), and to enjoy the peaceful waters of the bay, where (if you're lucky) you could be surprised by the spectacular given by the whales, who in their search for warmer waters visit this magical bay. Turtles also carry out an annual visit during the months of October and November, to deposit the seed of life in the warm sands which serve as womb for the future of their species.

 Due to its location in the bay, Pochote has a privileged location to observe the sunsets, accompanied by an orchestra of crickets and cicadas. The sunsets color the calm waters that caress the gray sands of the beach.

 We must also speak of the people of Pochote, humble workers that, day after day, fulfill their duties in search of sustenance for their families. To narrate the true story of Pochote, we should discover the “tanned faith” of its inhabitants, ancestral memories of lost childhoods in the passage of time.

 Vividly colored houses characterize the architecture of Pochote; full of memories that evoke the ocean, a faithful companion on the long journey of this struggling community; a community that, even in extreme conditions, intends to survive with dignity. The town of Pochote isn't just numbers and statistics, it is a combination of lives, of histories, of dreams and illusions, and of an uncertain tomorrow.

 Walking through the streets of Pochote, the faces of the children, full of hope of a better future, draw attention. But today, they are appreciative of what mother nature has given them: a little piece of paradise.

 “Life isn't waiting for the green light of contamination. It's vibration is felt more intensely at the edge of the beach of Pochote, seducing, welcoming with all of the mystery and magic of nature, people, and music.”

 In Pochote, aside from it's natural and ecological attraction, cultural activity stands out, in this moment lead by the Music School, part of the Harmony Integrated Development Project. The population of Pochote has unlimited access to the school, and the organization is currently working intensely to form the first Chamber Orchestra on the Nicoya Peninsula.

 Today, it is normal in this atypical town, to run into a child riding his bike, performing a juggling act to keep his balance, with a surf board under one arm and a cello on his back.

PRESIDENTIAL COMMITMENT

The visit of President Oscar Arias Sánchez to the community Pochote and to Conservatory Harmony last November strengthened the plans and projects that Harmony Developments developed during 2008.

The dream of a better future for the members of this small costal community on the Peninsula of Nicoya is becoming more of a reality with each passing day. Before us we have a great challenge: to make a model of sustainable development.

Institutions such as BANHIV, the Municipality of Paquera, MINAET and IMAS, have already joined forces with the local Development Association and Harmony Developments to teach the world that it really is possible to develop in Harmony.