In Spain, the project Music for Recycling transforms waste into musical instruments for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Initiated by the environmental group Ecoembes and inspired by Paraguay’s Cateura orchestra, the program combines recycling, music, and education to offer new opportunities to youths from underprivileged neighbourhoods.
The orchestra features instruments made from discarded materials — violins from soda cans, basses with skateboard bodies, and drums from plastic barrels. Among its members is Cristina Vazquez, a Roma teenager from Madrid who is now the first violinist. Another member, Luis Miguel Munoz, credits the project with keeping him focused and inspiring his goal of becoming a professional flamenco percussionist.
Founded in 2014 after a visit from the Cateura orchestra, the project has already helped four members earn music school scholarships. Over 100 children now receive lessons from orchestra members. Instrument maker Fernando Soler builds the instruments to resemble conventional ones as closely as possible, ensuring a smooth transition to standard music education.
The initiative not only gives waste new life but also offers children a future shaped by creativity, community, and music.
