Music Crossroads Academy in Malawi had an exciting visit by Norwegian Ambassador!
Mr. Steiner Egil Hagen and Embassy staff went on a visit to the Academy in area 23 in Lilongwe, as part of the annual meeting of the Music Crossroads academies project, supported by the Norwegian Embassy and implemented in partnership with Music Crossroads International in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. With the international partners present from Belgium, Germany, and Zimbabwe, the Ambassador and his team for a brief tour of the premises and a short showcase of the music students’ skills, at the premises of Music Crossroads Malawi, led by the director Mr.Gayighayi Mathews Mfune.
The Music Crossroads Academies have a 1-year certificate and a 2-year course being implemented in the 3 countries. With several success stories seeing young people who have benefited from the training being able to sustain themselves with work in music. The developments of each Academy were presented together with their challenges. Promising progress has been made, while the academies work on the challenges still present in each of the countries. Sustainability of said academies is crucial for the survival of the initiative.
Mr. Hagen commended the work achieved by the initiative by music crossroads and its partners, yet expressed his concern about the availability of support for the cultural sector. Norway continues to value the importance of cultural development, yet more support from other sectors is needed, engagement with the private sector, for example, is encouraged.
