WorldVoice

Like any good challenge, World Voice comes in stages.  The first works with 50 children under 11 years of age, who participate in the formation of a choir with their teachers. All from schools in Puente Alto, belonging to the Belén Educa Foundation. The process ends with a great concert at GAM, which integrates international songs and local folklore.

The English musician Richard Frostick is the leading teacher of this first stage and also of the two to come. Frostick comes to Chile to bring World Voice, a British Council project that through singing seeks to develop skills that contribute to the formation and strengthening of learning in all areas - not just musical - of boys and girls. 

"Singing is a universal mode of expression and communication. Through singing we can be educated about all aspects of music and find ways to make sense of our spiritual and emotional lives. Singing is also a proven means of enhancing learning across the curriculum, especially in literacy and foreign language teaching," says Frostick.

International cooperation is a key part of the program, which has already been carried out in the United Kingdom, France, Argentina and countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. This is the first time that the program comes to Chile, thanks to an alliance between the British Council, Fundación Belén Educa and GAM.

In previous experiences, the program has worked with children from families in difficulty and with blind teachers. "We are not looking for any specific profile of student. Our goal is to involve children from across the social and economic spectrum and at all levels, including those with particular learning needs. Singing is for everyone and everyone can do it!" says Frostick.

To ensure the delivery of tools that enrich children's learning, teachers are key figures in the program. That is why the second and third stages of World Voice are aimed at them. A five-day teacher training will be held in July for 30 music teachers.  Among them, a group will be selected to complete their training in October, thereby obtaining certification in the World Voice method.