"The efforts to educate and improve the future for the people of this area is inspiring ... we were particularly moved by the students' performance at the Disabled Children's Orchestra in Quito."

Richard & Lois Dickerman—Estes Park, Colorado

Sinamune Disabled Children's Orchestra

The students at Sinamune must overcome mental and visual challenges to develop the motor skills needed to play a musical instrument—and in doing so, they gain the confidence to face whatever other challenges they might encounter during their lives. Furthermore, by welcoming OAT travelers, the school aims to educate the wider world about Ecuadorian music.

Since 2005, Foundation donations have helped refurbish the beautiful auditorium at Sinamune, where our visiting travelers enjoy musical performances. We've also helped to purchase musical instruments and to build a kitchen and dining room for the service of daily meals.

The founder of Sinamune, Maestro Edgar Palacios, has big dreams for the future of his organization. He hopes to someday expand the school's programming to include evening and weekend classes in other artistic areas like dancing, visual arts, mime, and handcrafts—and he plans to support this project and more through the sale of CDs and DVDs featuring performances by the orchestra. Grand Circle Foundation hopes to help fund the recording and production of these materials so that Maestro Palacios can begin raising funds nationally and internationally.

School in session:

Year round, with vacation over the month of August and periodic closures for Christmas, New Year's, and other holidays

Gifts to bring if you're visiting:

• Crayons
• Watercolors
• Tempera paints
• Puppets
• T-shirts
• Coloring books
• Backpacks
• Educational videos
• Bookmarks