Projeto Sons e Tons Music, Inclusion, and Community

In Bom Jesus de Goiás, Brazil, access to cultural and educational spaces remains limited, particularly for music education. The Fair Trade Committee, Associação dos Trabalhadores da Goiasa Goiatube Alcool Ltda. led a needs assessment and found that more than 90% of respondents did not have access to music schools in their community, while over 70% identified music education as important. Alongside this gap, the community faces broader social pressures, including exposure to violence, which reinforces the need for safe, constructive spaces that support learning, expression, and connection. “Projeto Sons e Tons” was created in response to these findings. The project was approved by the General Assembly of workers in 2023 and later renewed based on its positive results. Through collective decision-making, workers choose to invest in a program that could reach beyond the workplace and serve the wider community. The project offers group-based music education focused on instruments such as guitar, keyboard, drums, “cajon”, and choral singing. Its methodology combines musical instruction with an emphasis on inclusion, belonging, and shared practice, supporting participants’ personal development while strengthening ties between families and the community. Today, Projeto Sons e Tons serves 130 children and adolescents, along with 15 adults from the Association of Parents and Friends of People with Disabilities (APAE). An investment of $53,300 USD from Community Development Funds has supported regular music classes and group activities where participants learn and perform together. The inclusion of APAE members reinforces the project’s commitment to accessibility and social participation across different ages and abilities. For Jonás José Lima, a participant of music classes from APAE, the experience is deeply meaningful. “Projeto Sons e Tons is an immense joy for us. Learning to play different instruments means so much to us.” Through its ongoing classes and shared performances, the project provides a welcoming and practical space for cultural learning and connection in Bom Jesus de Goiás.