MiCultura and IPHE come together to extend music education to people with disabilities

To facilitate the inclusion of about 17,000 children and young people with disabilities through music, using their transformative power to enhance their creative, artistic and intellectual skills, the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) and the Panamanian Institute of Special Habilitation (IPHE) have concluded a framework agreement for inter-agency cooperation and that the Network of Orchestra and Youth Corks of Panama will be the main performer.

The agreement aims at training and accompaniment, promoting access and integration of persons with disabilities, registered with the 21 educational establishments of the IHE, with workshops, Fine Arts and Folklore programs with the ministry, enabling them to develop their skills and enjoy their cultural rights.

Giselle González Villarrué, Minister of Culture and Marisa Canales Díaz, head of the IPHE, sealed the pact that formalizes efforts to continue to work for the benefit of children and youth with disabilities at the national level, ensuring that they have equal access to culture so that they enjoy the cultural programs that are offered to the rest of society and recognizing their artistic and cultural achievements.

Since 2020, with an inter-institutional partnership with the Panamanian Institute of Special Training, The Network has been opening up with Special Education Programme and this is one of the four main branches of the project dedicated to providing different tools and methodologies so that children, girls, youth and adults with disabilities, special educational needs or chronic illnesses can develop their musical potential and be professionally trained in the world of music.

The agreement will allow IPHE trainers to conduct sign-tongue training and a number of training sessions for Ministry staff.

"With this agreement, the Ministry of Culture formalizes its efforts to continue to work together, for more than three years, we have assumed the role of transforming lives through music, strengthening capabilities and impact his family, because this has been a complete surrender from all parties," she said.

"It will be 17,000 students that will impact, form a great brotherhood, and the growth of these children and youth is very significant, fills us with joy, how they develop their skills with a great deal of discipline and commitment," added González Villarrué.

Meanwhile, Marisa Canales Diaz expressed his gratitude to all the Red's teachers for the great change that has been noted in the students who have been feeding from the music workshops that are held at the headquarters of the IHE, highlighting the work of a dedicated team that has been occurring since the pandemic and in which parents have been involved, stating that this will be a memory for their lives.

The document also mentions that MiCultura can offer its other inclusive programs such as cultural accessibility, where through guided tours, people with disabilities can visit cultural attractions such as museums, theatres and other cultural spaces on an equal footing.

Also the program Expresas Te Arte, which is an opportunity for artists with them to develop their talents and become arts professionals, the best example of this is the Inclusive Gala that takes place every year at the National Theater.