It has been really hard getting this project started. I began hoping to find a local church that would house the project. I spoke to churches but the only response I could get was "That sounds nice." After I was unable to work out of church I began looking for orphanages that might like a music program. I had heard that there were several orphanages in the area and began asking for information. Even people who said they had visited the orphanages were unable to give me addresses or phone numbers. I finally was given the name of an orphanage. To find the orphanage I had to get a cab driver who knew where it was.
The orphanage turned out to be a school for special needs children. The school, COANIL, doesn't have a real music teacher and they were very excited to have me. Even though I told them I have no experience with special needs children we set a date and time.
When I arrived to teach the first day they seemed incredibly surprised, they didn't think that I would show up. I have started teaching fifteen kids once a week and I hope to start teaching more children. I'm also teaching the woman who had been doing the music instruction how to teach more effectively. The kids are learning to use hand bells. Lots of the kids have been asking to be taught how to play guitar so I hope to begin basic guitar instruction.
