Collections of Resources on Education for Sustainability and Green Living

Friday, June 7, 2013

Landfill Harmonic

A cello made from an oil can and pieces of wood thrown in the garbage; a
saxophone made of spoons and buttons. These are the instruments crafted
by Nicolas, a recycler with no previous experience making musical
instruments, living hand-to-mouth by the garbage dump in Catuera,
Paraguay. Inspired by this initiative and creativity, Maestro Luis
Szaran, director of "Sounds of the Earth," formed a "recycled orchestra"
with children living at the dump. "Our main goal isn't to form good
musicians, but to form good citizens." Now 30 members strong, listen to
the sweet sounds of these recycled instruments and the hopes and dreams
of the children who play them.

To demonstrate that creative and simple solutions can bring powerful social transformation to the poorest communities.

Creative Visions Foundation (CVF) provided Landfill Harmonic with production and outreach services from project inception including pro-bono legal, public relations, and strategic partnerships. CVF raised funds through individual donations and foundations and helped market the online trailer that reached more than 850,000 people. Additionally, Landfill Harmonic has been featured in other CAP member newsletters, and was invited to present at TEDx San Diego through CVF.

Too many children in the world are born into lives with little or no hope. Our film reveals a mind-boggling, inventive effort to change that - musical instruments made from trash. In the barrios of Paraguay, a humble garbage picker uses his ingenuity to craft instruments out of recycled materials - and a youth orchestra is born. Music arises and children find new dreams.

Our film will showcase the power of creativity, hope, empowerment, and community work. We began official production in 2011. We filmed some of the children who learned to play violin, flute, drums, cello, string bass, and more - all made from recycled metal drums, tin cans, and plastic pipes. Their spirits soar with each note they play.

We are returning to the village in 2012 to update the progress of three young children who recently entered the orchestra. Landfill Harmonic shows how trash and recycled materials can be transformed into beautiful sounding musical instruments, but more importantly, it brings witness to the transformation of precious human beings.

Our lives were changed in making this film so far - and with your help in allowing us to complete it, we hope to change yours.