New Ideas from the Periphery

Jose Abreu

The gulf between the rich and the poor in Venezuela is wide. In 1975, Dr. José Antonio Abreu, a retired economist and musician founded El Sistema (”the system”) based on the conviction that Venezuelan children could benefit from participating in classical music. El Sistema is now a nationwide organization of 102 youth orchestras, 55 children’s orchestras, and 270 music centers.

Comprised of close to 250,000 young musicians, El Sistema uses music education to help youth, most of whom are from impoverished circumstances, to improve their lives. José views El Sistema as an alternative to the drugs and crime that plagues the lives of many Venezuelan children. These talented musicians have become a source of national pride, bringing classical music from the concert hall into the real world.

There is a simple concept behind José’s work: for him an orchestra is first and foremost about togetherness, a place where children learn to listen to each other and to respect one another.

Earlier this evening José was award a TED prize (http://www.TED.com) for his work over the past 30 years.

TED (which provided the information above) has recognized a great idea seeded and nurtured in among the disadvantaged of Venezuela -- an idea that is spreading to the US and the world.

Looking for new ideas? Looking for innovation? Look to the developing world for inspiration. Look to the periphery. The intelligence is at the edges.