In Costa Rica, Growing with Music program helps children develop life skills

“We are learning. They are teaching us beautiful songs and we learn everything we can, since if we didn’t come here, there’s nowhere we would learn… It’s fun because not only can we see what others do, but we get to try to do things by ourselves.”
– Schoolgirl enrolled in the “Growing with Music” program in Gravilias, Costa Rica

Seija Toro (top row, center), UNICEF Representative in Costa Rica, with Manuel Obregon (top right), the Minister of Culture, and Miguel Angel Peña, Director of the National System of Music Education, at the opening of the Growing with Music program in Gravilias. © UNICEF-Costa Rica / Fernando Vindas / 2011

Costa Rica is a middle-income country and  tourist destination in Central America that is perhaps best known for its coffee, beaches, biodiversity and the catchphrase “pura vida!” Many are unaware, however, of the country’s vast levels of inequity: In 2009, the poorest fifth of households accounted for only 5% of the national income, while the wealthiest accounted for 50%. One in every three children in Costa Rica is affected by poverty, and indigenous, afro-descendant and immigrant children are at even greater risk:  Illiteracy rates are six times higher than the national average, infant mortality rates double that of the national average, and the average number of years in school ranges only from 1 to 3.4 years. These “excluded” children also live in areas with the highest rates of violence.  

Last month, Seija Toro, the UNICEF Representative in Costa Rica, visited the U.S. Fund in New York to share with us what UNICEF is doing to narrow these incredible disparities so that all children have a fair shot at a healthy and productive life. One particular program—“Growing with Music”— literally has everyone listening. Growing with Music is a music education program supported by UNICEF that seeks to promote early childhood development and improve school readiness and life skills for disadvantaged children, ages 2-7. The program has been implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Health in four priority communities: Gravilias, Santa Cruz, Sabalito, and Limoncito. The first phase of the program reached 370 children, and UNICEF is now working with national authorities and universities to expand coverage of the program, build the music training capacity of teachers, and design additional training curriculum for preschools and daycare centers.

“I’m happy because I like playing the tambourine. I always want to play the tambourine.” – Boy with the Growing with Music program in Gravilias©. UNICEF - Costa Rica / John Vergel / 2011

Studies worldwide have demonstrated the positive impact of music on the development of life skills and values in children. Early education in music enables intellectual, auditory, motor and speech development, and gives children the space to communicate, work in teams and gain autonomy while learning how to relate harmoniously to others. Outside of research, however, the positive and life-changing impact of Growing with Music is perhaps best told by program participants themselves:

“Before he didn’t like singing, but now he sings all the time and he can memorize things easier. Since he has a language problem, this has helped him a bit and he’s grown and developed during the short time he’s been attending.”—Mother on her son’s cognitive development

“I think within families there’s been substantial change, parents are very happy and express it. They ask, for example, when their children have music classes so they do not miss that day.” —Teacher in Gravilias on the impact of Growing with Music on school attendance

“I drew a face… She’s happy because she is listening to music.” – Girl with the Growing with Music Program in Santa Cruz. © UNICEF - Costa Rica / John Vergel / 2011

“Their physical development has improved a lot.  I’ll give an example: a girl who was utterly uncoordinated, like, she couldn’t coordinate her hands, or if she moved her hands she didn’t move her feet or… It was very complicated for her, and now, with music exercises, she can coordinate very well, and I was amazed, very surprised when I saw her doing coordination exercises. For example, she would ring a bell, tap her feet, sing and mimic, and she’s super motivated with music.” —Teacher in Sabalito on the physical impact of the program

“My son has developed, he has experimented, he has opened himself up more to the society and his family. He has left behind many complications and has gained confidence.” —Mother on her son’s psychosocial development

“Children come home happy and sing different songs every day.” —Father whose child particpates in the program

Programs like Growing with Music are an example of how UNICEF works with governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and community-based organizations to ensure that all children have opportunities to reach their full potential. As one Costa Rican artist shared with Seija, “Children are not only the future, but the present as well.”