23 more students from Escola do Cerco school join the 'Música para Todos' programme

It's already the 14th edition, but the excitement and restlessness remain the same among the students of the Escolas do Cerco school grouping. In this case, 23 Class A 5th graders, who this Monday received musical instruments as part of the municipal 'Música para Todos' programme. One day, who knows, they may join the Orquestra Juvenil da Bonjóia (youth orchestra), which whetted their appetite with a small performance in the Noble Room of the City Hall.

One by one, the 5th graders received their musical instruments from the hands of the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, the Councillor for Education, Fernando Paulo, and representatives of the entities involved in the project – Artur Santos Silva, Honorary President of BPI, Rui Pedroto, President of the Executive Committee of the Manuel António da Mota Foundation, Álvaro Teixeira Lopes, Director of the Silva Monteiro Music Course, and Manuel Oliveira, Director of the Escolas do Cerco school grouping.

'We are always delighted to help so many children and youngsters study music. We are well aware of the role it [music] plays in the learning process, by stimulating students' cognitive, emotional and social development', the mayor said, emphasising that this initiative reflects 'the principles that guide the social intervention of the Municipality of Porto'.

'It's a project that nurtures dreams, conveys hope and generates expectations in many children and youngsters. It's a project that fades away socio-economic differences and promotes diversity and social inclusion in schools. It's a project that ultimately embodies the idea of full and active citizenship', Rui Moreira emphasised.

'A Porto of all and for all'

In the opinion of the Mayor of Porto, 'Música para Todos' is 'an example of our networking with different stakeholders and institutions in favour of the common good'. 'It reflects our efforts to promote social cohesion, with a view to building a more solidary, integrated and inclusive city', he stated, while adding: 'A Porto of all and for all'.

Rui Moreira took the opportunity to thank the project's partners – 'cooperation between the public and private sectors in social cohesion projects is viable, desirable and benefits the development of our municipality', he emphasised – and the parents and guardians of the students who are now also part of the project, stressing the dedication they have shown, always supporting their children.

And so the Orquestra Juvenil da Bonjóia was born

Created in 2010, the 'Música para Todos' project is now in its 14th edition. It promotes social inclusion through music teaching, supported by a solid educational project based on the principles of cultural diversity, enabling children and youngsters to get to know other realities, cultures and languages, which are reflected in their school performance and results. Providing instruments for learning thus allows for equal opportunities.

This is a project developed in partnership with the Escola Curso de Música Silva Monteiro and the Escolas do Cerco school grouping, a school from the city's Educational Territories of Priority Intervention (TEIP). It is sponsored by Banco BPI - Banco Português de Investimento, BIAL and the Manuel António da Mota Foundation. And it was from 'Música para Todos' that the Orquestra Juvenil de Bonjóia was born, promoting the work carried out by the students and giving visibility to the learning process and the results obtained.