The Panama Youth Orchestra and Cork Network of the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), initiated the programme's annual training at the Anita Villalaz Theater that will extend throughout the week.

Some 150 teachers and proponents of the programme at the national level will have an opportunity to be trained to develop themes of teaching work, social commitment and participation in special workshops.

Electra Castillo, national director of La Red, emphasized the importance of this activity as we have to be constantly updated as the world goes forward and it's important that teachers and coordinators have the tools to get through with the La Red project.

The day began with a "leadership workshop that's very important for our teachers to be leaders, so that they can teach our children and youth and turn them into leaders in their communities," Castillo remarked.

Meanwhile, speaker Edysbeth Salazar stated that "we have to understand that leadership has nothing to do with jobs and that we all have the potential to be leaders.

Leadership is an influence and to be an example of others we have to start with ourselves. The leader is measured by the capacity of lives that impacts and achieve this is a path of personal growth. "

The agenda will continue throughout the week and themes will be presented as: "Educational processes at prisons," run by the Technical Team of the Institute for interdisciplinary studies of the Ministry of Government, and workshop about musical teaching "To remove barriers and analyse your teaching style," taught by Mr. Melanie Taylor and a UNDP process conference.

Marcela Méndez, an academic coordinator of La Red, noted that this is a preparatory work and that we will be talking about music issues and workshops for the staff that aim to be part of La Red.

The teachers are an important part of this training, from which many positive elements are being taken up as stated by Gerardo Roa, a professor of violin chair.

"To me these workshops are very important because they join the whole team to have a positive result throughout the year and we have been starting with very important talks as that of leadership that will help us with our daily jobs," Roa remarked.

The week will continue with a long day of workshops and talks that end on Friday with a new presentation by Lecturer Edysbeth Salazar and the theme "To give value to the lives of others."