Students perform for rural Ecuador

University students performed classical music last night in a benefit concert held to raise money that will fund books, uniforms and fees for poor children who attend school in rural Ecuador.

The event raised about $400 in total through suggested donations at the door, University Music Association president Ben Smolen '07, who organized the concert, said. The funds will go to the Village Education Project, a program that seeks to cover the costs of education for rural areas of developing countries.

Katie Chamblee, a senior at Swarthmore College and director of the project, thanked the audience of about 40 people for its generosity in her opening remarks. "Every $200 we receive is another student that we can send to school," she said.

Helen Tpisovsky came from her home in Lawrenceville, N.J., to hear a friend perform in the concert. Tpisovsky said she had not known of the project prior to the benefit, but that she liked what she heard.

"It sounds like they're doing a great job," she said, adding that "it's nice to hear that this [project] is all-volunteer."

Chamblee began the Village Education Project after volunteering as an elementary school teacher in a village near Otavalo, Ecuador, during the summer of 2005. She was prompted to take action when she learned that none of her students would be able to continue school beyond sixth grade.

Though a local public school exists, it charges a $25 matriculation fee and requires students to buy their own books, school supplies and uniforms, which adds up to $200, an "exorbitant" yearly fee for families, Chamblee said.

This year, the project covered the costs for every child in four villages — 48 children all told — to attend school. Chamblee said the money will cover costs for 100 children next year. The project has no paid staff.

Smolen, who has been friends with Chamblee since kindergarten, said he had wanted to assist her with the project since she started it. He said the benefit required "quite a bit of planning," but that the musicians were easy to find: He just asked his friends.

"The musicians were ready with the music, and people are always willing to perform," Smolen said.

Crista Kende '07, who played the viola in the concert, said that it was relatively easy to come up with music to perform.

"I just had a senior recital a couple weeks ago in Taplin Auditorium as part of the music certificate, so I just chose a piece from that and used it," she said.

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The concert, held in the newly renovated Mathey Common Room, is the second benefit concert the Music Association has held. The first was in fall 2005 and benefited Hurricane Katrina victims. Smolen said the University Music Association would continue to hold annual benefit concerts.