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How Can I Keep From Singing..

MSC archived stories- March 17, 2019

Estephanie came into my life in 2015 at age 6. Soon after I learned that how gifted she was at such young age to play the guitar on every Saturday in her local church. The eldest of 2 girls in her family, the parents stepped up to my request to send her to a music academy but we learned that she was too young by then and had to wait till reached 8 to join a music school in Guatemala.

Fast-forward.. 2 years later she was ready and very excited to pursue this extra curricular activity to learn the guitar and the flute at only music school in her community. Her parents did consider options further away, outside their community, but ultimately decided on this one as it's most convenient for the mother to drop her off and pick her up from classes.

 

She was the youngest one in the class consisting children from affluent families – an opportunity for her to not only meet new friends, who live far away from her but also to have an insight into their life style.

 

I specifically asked that she attends the 2yr course only during the weekend without disrupting her schooling during the week. The instruments, tuition, books, bus fares, etc all provided, and for the past 2yrs she was spending Saturday mornings between 8-12pm learning her music lessons.

 

I was told that she was progressing at a quick pace and was very smart! When she and her classmates had a concert performance in June 2017, I was with her in spirit on that day listening to “How Can I Keep From Singing” [youtu.be/Z9hth14hokI] – it was a gift from her angel (as she calls me) to my miracle little princess!

 

The agency just reported that "Estephanie completed satisfactorily the lessons, she is happy and glad because she counted with the sponsor support to complete and increase her knowledge in music. She is expecting to continue learning so much. Estephanie and her family are very active in the sponsorship activities now."

 

She loves to continue learning music with these musical instruments because it is one of her passions.

Comments

  1. chelaka17 March 2025 at 21:54

    This is an exciting story, I relished every word of it. Bravo Chelaka, you're a terrific sponsor. (To those who never visit profiles, Chelaka sponsors EIGHT!)

    March 17, 2019

    ReplyDelete
  2. chelaka17 March 2025 at 21:54

    Wow! I never would have thought to send her to a music academy. How did you know that such a school existed? Chelaka, you are one AMAZING sponsor, and truly an angel for Estephanie.

    March 17, 2019

    ReplyDelete
  3. chelaka17 March 2025 at 21:55

    Chelaka, you are awesome! Thank you for sharing that.

    March 18, 2019

    ReplyDelete
  4. chelaka17 March 2025 at 21:55

    Thanks Rachel! I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Yes, 8 (+ 1 from Sri Lanka through local charity – shilpa.org) enough to keep me busy with my sponsorship work.

    March 18, 2019

    ReplyDelete
  5. chelaka17 March 2025 at 21:56

    Thanks Nancy! Estephanie’s mum believed that she shows great interest in music and would enjoy taking a course and further develop her skills playing the guitar. Alpha (Philippines) was my 2nd to graduate, and she too wanted to learn to play the guitar (photo added to My Media), but Estephanie was my 1st to receive a formal music education.

    March 18, 2019

    ReplyDelete

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