Building International Music PartnerSHips IN Southern Africa
As students, we are raising funds to support the creation and transport of handcrafted marimbas from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
We will perform on these instruments at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival (SCL) in August 2026. This will be the first time the festival has taken place in South Africa, and the World Music Program (WMP) is excited to be a part of it.
Rather than shipping our own instruments internationally, our school has chosen to commission master Zimbabwean instrument maker Jacob Mafuleni of Tsoro Arts & Social Centre to build these marimbas.
After the festival, the marimbas will return to Zimbabwe, where they will be shared by Tsoro Arts, Ubuntu Learning Village, and Tariro Hope & Health for Zimbabwe’s Orphans.
100% of your donation supports the creation of handcrafted marimbas in Zimbabwe and their transport to South Africa for performance at the SCL Festival. Any additional funds will support ongoing music education, student needs, and learning resources at the three partner organizations. Our goal is to raise $25,000 CAD.
For us, this project is about more than performance. It is an opportunity to deepen intercultural understanding and continue building meaningful relationships with these organizations over time.
Since 2010, the WMP has focused on Zimbabwean marimbas. Together with our music directors, Mr. Dyck and Dr. Freeborn, we continue to learn from and with incredible Zimbabwean musicians and educators.
SUMMA CUM LAUDE International Youth Music Festival
The Summa Cum Laude (SCL) International Youth Music Festival brings together youth musicians from around the world to perform, learn, and share through music.
Held each July in Vienna at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein and the Wiener Konzerthaus, the festival offers an international setting where students connect across cultures through performance, workshops, and collaboration.
In 2026, the SCL will be held in South Africa for the first time. Alongside performances, the festival will include workshops, rehearsals, and opportunities to collaborate with peers from around the world, helping us broaden our musical perspectives and deepen our understanding of and appreciation for different cultures.
We are excited and grateful to be part of this experience.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sclfestival.org/
TSORO ARTS & SOCIAL CENTRE
Tsoro Arts & Social Centre is a community arts organization based in Harare, Zimbabwe. It provides free access to traditional music, dance, and singing, while also building handcrafted marimbas and mbiras.
Founded by Jacob Mafuleni and his late wife, Martha, the centre offers regular lessons, rehearsals, and performance opportunities for young people in the community.
In addition to its arts programming, Tsoro supports students and their families by helping with school fees, providing food hampers, and organizing enrichment activities.
Its mission is to create a safe and inclusive space where young people can develop their skills, express themselves, and stay connected to their cultural practices.
With ongoing support from local and international partners, Tsoro Arts continues to expand its programs and reach. It remains a vital space where tradition and opportunity meet.
For more information, please visit: https://tsoroarts.org/
UBUNTU LEARNING VILLAGE
Ubuntu Learning Village is a community-based nonprofit and cultural centre in Gutu, Zimbabwe. Rooted in the philosophy of “I am because we are,” its work is grounded in interconnected relationships between people, land, culture, and knowledge.
As a registered trust, Ubuntu runs a range of programs that support education, health, culture, and environmental stewardship. These include the Ubuntu Free School for children in surrounding farming communities, an upcycling arts program that engages youth in environmental awareness, and initiatives that support women’s health and young women’s empowerment.
The centre is also home to the Ubuntu Mbira Group, whose work sustains and shares traditional music and cultural knowledge through performance, teaching, and community practice.
In a semi-arid region with unpredictable rainfall, Ubuntu also supports local food systems by teaching agroecology and Indigenous farming practices that strengthen resilience and food security.
Through its integrated programs, Ubuntu Learning Village supports individuals and families while fostering strong connections between culture, education, and the environment.
For more information, visit: https://ubuntuearth.org/
TARIRO HOPE & HEALTH FOR ZIMBABWE'S ORPHANED GIRLS
Tariro is a grassroots nonprofit founded in 2003 by Memory Bandera and Dr. Jennifer Kyker to educate and empower girls in Zimbabwean communities affected by HIV/AIDS.
The organization supports students holistically by covering school and exam fees, uniforms, and supplies, while also providing access to textbooks, tutoring, mentorship, and life skills programming. Through home and school visits, workshops, and an annual empowerment camp, Tariro fosters confidence, well-being, and self-advocacy.
Students also participate in a traditional music and dance ensemble, strengthening cultural pride and community connection. By keeping girls in school and supporting their development, Tariro reduces vulnerability to poverty and HIV/AIDS while helping them build independent futures.
World Music Program
Brockton School’s World Music Program (WMP) has been captivating audiences in Canada and around the world for a decade and a half. The ensemble is celebrated for its energy, spirit, and powerful sense of teamwork.
At its core, WMP aims to foster a compassionate global consciousness. The group has performed internationally in countries including China, Greece, Scotland, England, and the USA, and at renowned festivals such as the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Carnegie Hall’s International Sounds of Spring Festival (gold medal), and the Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna.
WMP has performed for notable Canadians including Chris Hadfield and Rick Hansen, recorded with Grammy Award–winning artist Steve Smith, and has twice been recognized by the UNESCO-founded International Society for Music Education as one of the world’s most exciting music education programs.
Equally at home on major stages or in intimate community settings, WMP students share music in ways that uplift and connect—performing for elder care homes, community organizations, and charitable causes.
