Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados Cateura Paraguay

Orquesta de Instrumentos Reciclados Cateura (2006, Cateura) is a youth orchestra that is transforming lives. It is unique in its ingenious use of humble local resources and a beacon of pride and hope for the local community. Six kilometres west of Asunción, Cateura is built on top of a landfill where more than 1.5 tonnes of solid wastes are dumped every day. Most families here, including children, work as garbage recyclers to earn a meagre living. In this difficult context, Favio Chávez, a former music teacher working as an environmental engineer, started giving music lessons to the children.

Report from the 2013 Prince Claus Awards Committee here.