“It feels exciting because it’s very quiet then suddenly there’s a huge sound.” Weheliye, 6 years.
“The music makes me feel calm and peaceful.” Temesgen, 16 years.
Solomon's Knot is proud of its unique partnership with the Klevis Kola Foundation which enables children in their care to come to our rehearsals and concerts and to experience our music - and musicians - up close. Christopher Hands of Klevis Kola introduces the work of the charity and describes our collaborations to date.
"The Klevis Kola Foundation is a registered charity and community organisation with members from all over London. Klevis Kola supports refugee and asylum-seeking families and helps them to play their full part in the community. The charity takes its name from a young Kosovan boy who we met in 2002 living with his family in a hostel in South London.
Arriving in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with languages, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. Most refugee children live in poverty with little or no access to positive leisure activities.
Klevis Kola exists to help refugees overcome these challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives at the centre of the community. We do this through a number of projects including after-school clubs, a mentoring scheme, trips and holidays, summer schools, advocacy work and a football club.
We believe that giving young people new experiences is an essential part of building their confidence and self-esteem. We are therefore delighted to be working in partnership with Solomon's Knot to introduce some of the children to the world of classical music. For all of them it marks their first exposure to this genre of music and they approach it with fresh ears and eyes."
Above: Klevis Kola children meet Solomon's Knot musicians at Grosvenor Chapel, November 2009
