Music as a Global Resource - India
Opening Minds involves working on four focus areas: building awareness about clinical music therapy, capacity building, education and training, and launching pilot music therapy projects to diverse groups in varied settings. These activities are spread across India. The project aims to serve the following organisations and individuals: educational institutions, hospitals and psychiatric clinics, special educators, teachers and students, healthcare staff, and NGOs and other organisations dealing with children who have special needs or any other form of disability.
Opening Minds’ plan to deliver music therapy to a wider range of venues, including:
Pre-school nurseries and assessment centres for children with special needs;
Special schools, including those for children with mild and severe learning difficulties and with hearing or visual impairments;
Residential schools for children with behavioural or emotional problems;
Community-based day centres;
Hospices and respite centres for children and adults;
Day centres run by the Probation Service;
Hospitals and units for people with physical disabilities or neurological problems;
Day centres for the elderly; and
Businesses and corporations for those suffering from stress-related symptoms
The initiatives are independent of any particular genre or genres of music. Western classical is used, as well as jazz, Hindustani classical and Indian folk music. Indian and international musical instruments are employed.
NEEDS ADDRESSED
Music therapy can reach and help those who are often considered by society to be beyond help. It provides clients with the power and means to communicate, giving them and their families hope for a better future, and preventing loneliness and isolation by creating a better quality of life and the change for the client to reach their full potential.
Opening Minds benefits the students trained through its course, clients treated directly, and parents and relatives. It delivers benefits to society at large. Unlike many programs that offer services at a cost or profit, Opening Minds targets the areas in Goa, Kolkata, and Pune, and offers its services for free or on a subsidised basis.
VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS UNDERPINNING THIS PROJECT
Opening Minds’ vision is to provide effective musical tools that support self-exploration, promote self-care, and increase self-esteem, which can be carried into everyday life, creating positive interactions with other sin their personal and local communities. The mission is to provide quality evidence-based clinical music therapy services that promote mental health wellness, provide opportunities for personal growth, and increase physical well-being.
Ashwaas strives to build partnerships with NGOs and other organisations to increase the provision of music therapy in a variety of clinical and community settings across India. Ashwaas keeps up to date with the latest research findings in the field iof arts therapies to ensure that the most cutting-edge and effective therapeutic music techniques are used in all clinical work undertaken. All music therapy trainees and clinicians are well supported and supervised by Masters level qualified and experienced music therapists from all over the world.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
The immediate and medium-term outcomes of the project are to:
Build awareness of clinical music therapy;
Launch education and skill sharing programs on music therapy; and
Build partnerships with educational institutions, NGOs working on mental health, disability and education, hospitals, and psychiatric clinics.
The long-term objective of the initiative is to establish clinical music therapy education and professional development in India.
HOW MUSIC ACHIEVES THESE OUTCOMES
Music as a therapeutic tool is being offered to connect with and improve the functional skills of children and adults in a wide range of needs including: communication difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, global developmental delays, mental health problems, rare chromosomal disorders, behavioural difficulties, neurological conditions, stroke victims, chronic illness, elder care, and palliative care.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE TO THIS PROJECT
The key result areas that would spell success would result in an increased number of collaborations established and growth in the depth and diversity of the partnerships made.
Phase 1 success requires the launching of activities planned with each partner. The Ashwaas team records all activities and reports back in the form of Quarterly Performance Statements and Newsletters.
SOURCES OF FUNDING
Fees, and the exploration of collaborative opportunities with multiple stakeholders for mutual support in order to ensure long-term sustainability.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS RELEVANT TO THIS PROJECT
· Good health and well-being
· Quality education
· Gender equality
· Decent work and economic growth
· Reduced inequalities
· Partnerships for the goals
RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
Research and evaluation is embedded in the medium-to long-term plan. This will take place during Phase 2 of the journey.
MESSAGE ABOUT MUSIC’S CURRENT AND FUTURE GLOBAL ROLE
Music Therapy has the capacity to address all human beings at various stages of their lives. Music therapy has beneficial effects and can be applied very easily and inexpensively anywhere in the world. From a socio-economic point of view, music therapy sessions promote a cohesive and inclusive society, and increase the educational level of the population and their socio-economic development.
At the same time, music therapy sessions performed in kindergartens or schools offer children equal opportunities regardless of the parents’ financial situation. Another important economic aspect would be the increasing number of students in music schools through the development of a music therapy program. This would provide economic continuity for the music faculty in a country where student enrolment is steadily dropping. By increasing the number of students in music schools, the sustainability of jobs for teachers in music schools is enhanced.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name of Organisation: Ashwaas Music Therapy and Wellness Advisory Services LLP
Contact Person(s): Dr. Margaret Lobo and Mr. Srimanta Ray
Address: Shop No.19, 2nd Floor, Ponda Commerce Centre, Tisk, Ponda, North Goa, 403401, India
Email Address: margaret.lobo@ashwaas.com / srimanta.ray@ashwaas.com
Website: https://www.ashwaas.com
