Playing For Change Foundation

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Playing For Change Foundation

The Playing For Change Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to creating positive change through music
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To date, 19 music and education programs have been created in 14 countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Thailand, Latin America and the United States. More than 2,000 young people attend free classes in dance, instruments, languages and musical theory, all taught by qualified local teachers
15,000+ greater community members have benefitte

d from these PFCF-operated programs. The foundation continues to expand its support to communities in need by strengthening and growing our existing programs and partnering with local organizations around the world.

06/02/2026

✨ Teacher Tuesday Spotlight ✨

Meet Randall, Guitar Teacher & Administrator at the Program in Costa Rica 🎸🌊

Born in San José, Randall’s journey in music began early, leading him to study classical guitar and dedicate his career to teaching. With years of experience across Costa Rica, he now guides students in Cahuita through technique, music reading, and the rich traditions of Calypso 🎶🌴

For Randall, music is more than skill, it’s a way to preserve culture, build discipline, and offer young people a positive path forward 💛

“Practice makes the master”, a lesson he shares with every student as they find their rhythm and voice 🌍✨

05/31/2026

🎶🌍 Keeping 700+ Years of Tradition Alive Through Music 🌍🎶

In the heart of Kirina, Mali 🇲🇱, music is more than an art form, it’s a living connection to history, culture, and community. Through L’École de Musique de Kirina, 200 students are learning traditional instruments like the kora, balafon, and percussion 🥁, as well as dance and modern music.

Located in a historic Griot village near Bamako, the school helps preserve centuries of traditions, stories, and cultural heritage that have been passed down through generations ✨. The Griots are the keepers of Mali’s history, sharing it through music and poetry 🎵.

📚 Beyond music, students also have access to French and English language classes, along with evening lessons in science and other academic subjects, creating new opportunities for learning, growth, and future success 🌱

Donate today and be a part of the change
www.playingforchange.org/donate

05/27/2026

When students in Diamante learn to play the accordion, they also connect with the musical roots of their region.

The accordion is a fundamental instrument in Argentine littoral music and plays a central role in Chamamé, a traditional folk music style recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as well as in other regional rhythms such as Chamarrita, Rasguido Doble, Tanguito Montielero, and
Valseado.

Playing for Change - Diamante is currently the only place in Diamante offering the opportunity to learn this traditional instrument. Over time, accordion playing has slowly faded among younger generations due to a lack of access and instruction, becoming a tradition preserved mostly by older musicians.

We’re incredibly excited to support these students and watch them grow every step of the way!

05/19/2026

✨ Teacher Tuesday Spotlight ✨

Meet Ms. Wasita Satawarasamit, a passionate music educator shaping young musicians through the 🎶🌱

Originally from Pattani Province, Wasita discovered her love for music early on, rising from marching band member to band leader before pursuing a degree in Western Music 🎺✨

Now, she supervises both the string and melodeon bands, guiding students not just in music, but in discipline, focus, and confidence 💪🎻
She believes music education builds more than talent, it strengthens resilience, creativity, and life skills that last far beyond the classroom 💛

PFCF

05/12/2026

✨ Teacher Tuesday Spotlight ✨

Meet Mhee, a Bangkok-based ukulele teacher bringing creativity and heart to the Paintbrush Arts Program 🎶🌆
A graduate of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Mhee has taught at leading music schools and performed at major events like Bangkok Design Week and the Red Cross Fair 🎸✨

He’s also collaborated with renowned Thai artists and shared his original music on the radio 🎧

Now teaching at the , Mhee believes music is a powerful tool for self-expression and growth, helping young people build confidence, empathy, and resilience 💛🌱

We are grateful to have him as part of the PFCF Family

05/11/2026

This week, we’re taking you inside the townships outside of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦✨

Through the Playing For Change Foundation’s Imvula Music Program, music and the arts become instruments for hope, healing, and opportunity for local youth facing poverty, violence, drug abuse, and the lasting impacts of apartheid and racism.

But Imvula is about more than music 🎶
It’s about mentorship, community, safe spaces, nourishment, and giving young people the chance to dream bigger.❤️

“Music is my therapy. It heals wounds that medicine can’t touch.”

-Polar, Imvula music student

A huge thank you to the Nina Simone Charitable Trust for helping make this impactful work possible. ❤️🎶

05/10/2026

To the mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures who nurture, guide, and inspire across every corner of the world, today and everyday we celebrate you. 💛🌍

Through every lesson, every song, and every moment of care, you help shape the next generation and keep culture, strength, and love alive. 🎶

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Playing For Change Foundation.

05/06/2026

The gonje is a mysterious instrument 🎶, Captivating even to those who grow up hearing it. Its sound, technique, and craftsmanship create a truly one-of-a-kind musical experience ✨

Adorned with scarves and a distinctive brass ornament 🧣🔔, it’s almost impossible at first glance to understand how a simple string and resonator can produce such depth and expression.

At the Program in Tamale, Ghana 🇬🇭, students are keeping this powerful tradition alive, learning not just how to play the gonje, but how to carry its story forward 🌍❤️.;

05/05/2026

✨ Teacher Tuesday Spotlight ✨

Meet Jana Kumari Tamang, a leader, a mother of six, and a force for change 💪🌍

As Secretary of the Tintale Village Mother’s Society, Jana has spent nearly two decades empowering women, challenging harmful practices, and promoting education for both girls and boys 📚⚖️

From agriculture to sewing and traditional folk music 🎶🧵, she carries her culture forward while building a more equal future 🌱

Because when women lead, communities grow stronger 💛

Address

171 Pier Avenue #271
Santa Monica, CA
90405

Website

http://www.playingforchange.org/

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