1. Structure of the project / staff The My Peace Music Institute is the first project of My Peace Organization Kalimpong, a not- for-profit organization, founded by Chogyal Tulku (28) in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, in 2007 (Reg.Nr. 329-I296/2007). The music institute is funded by donations.
The staff consists of 3 local music teachers (part time), 2 Ladies who take care of organizational and office matters (part-time) and a night-watchman. Accounting and fiscal reporting is taken care of by a chartered accountant in Kalimpong. The MPMI is monitored and supported in management matters by MPO Austria, a non-profit association founded in 2008 (ZVR 143104693).
2. General aims • The My Peace Music Institute (MPMI) introduces young people from marginal backgrounds or orphans to local and western classical music and provides them with a free training to become music teachers or musicians. The completion of the training will enable them to find jobs in the region or country. • Simultaneously the institute contributes funds to the childrens’ basic education and seeks to promote those who are determined to complete the musical training to a higher educational level. • The MPMI performs concerts and contributes to the cultural life of the community, the students are encouraged by public acknowledgement • Social responsibility, team spirit as well as intercultural cooperation, understanding and support.is fostered.
Presently (2013) 32 boys and girls are trained free of charge. All instruments are provided by the institute. Exams are conducted by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) once a year. At completion of grade 8 a student is very able to work as a teacher. In the Himalayan Hills area qualified music teachers are in demand. Several are employed without having completed grade 8.
The MPMI was one of about 80 international projects featured in a United Nations sponsored compendium titled “Music As A Natural Resource: Solutions for Social and Economic Issues” (fall 2010).
3. Impediments to the project’s further development and progress
The region lacks qualified music teachers who would be able to well advance the students from grade 5 onwards. Presently the MPMI is not in a position to engage such teachers (eg piano) from outside the area or to finance visiting teachers from abroad. If this problem cannot be solved, the higher grade students will temporarily have to be trained in Kolkatta, Delhi or elsewhere which requires quite some funds as well.
The very determined students would extremely profit from the chance to temporarily further and extend their abilities abroad. At the same time this would benefit the project’s future, because such a student upon his/her return would certainly be interested to work as a music teacher at the MPMI.
To provide the piano accompaniment for the higher grade violinists at their ABRSM exams poses a serious problem. And the quality of it does effect the evaluation.
Malli Road below Flower Patch, Alaichikop,Kalimpong, 734301, West Bengal, India 1/2
4. Location Kalimpong (approx. 40.000 inhabitants) is located in the north-east of India, in the state of West Bengal, approx. 50 km away from Darjeeling in the Himalayan Hills. It is a center of education with the biggest variety of schools in the Hills and a trade hub with links to Sikkim, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan. Kalimpong is home to different ethnic groups. Especially the young locals are very interested in music.
5. Contact www.mypeacemusic.net
MPMI: [email protected] MPO Austria: [email protected]
Malli Road below Flower Patch, Alaichikop,Kalimpong, 734301, West Bengal, India 2/2