Two milestones to experience cultural exchanges, form paths of inclusion through art and develop musical talents. Yann Dupont is a French teacher. He teaches at the Institution Sainte Catherine in Villeneuve-Sur-Lot, France. He had always dreamt of taking some of his students to Moramanga in Madagascar for a cultural exchange with the Antsirinala School. One day, by chance Dupont met Valerio Gentile from Gen Rosso and from a lively, simple and sincere dialogue, an idea was born.  Why not go to Madagascar together, Gen Rosso and five of his students for a cultural and humanitarian exchange? And that’s exactly what happened! The French young people were included in the ‘train the trainer’ formation group and a number of young people interested in the performing arts also participated. They took as their motto the words they then put into practice during the workshops in Madagascar: “call by name, put yourself in the other person’s shoes, live one for the other with joy, start again”. It was an 8-day tour – thanks to the financial support of the NGO Edugascar – in November to 4 different cities: Ambatondrazaka, Moramanga, Antsirinala, Antingandingana. They spent their time between dance, percussion and singing workshops and concerts. Over 500 young people were involved. “We believe we’ve all experienced a little piece of a more united world here in Madagascar,” said Gen Rosso. “We have discovered a people who convey hope, patience, a sense of adaptation, serenity and courage in the face of life with all its daily challenges. Nancy Judicaelle, a young girl from Madagascar remarked: “On the one hand I am sad that my time with them was so short but I am so happy and deeply moved, and am experiencing an inexplicable joy”. Angel, one of the young participants added: “The concert was terrific because we had shared about music, the education of children and respect for the environment. It was a great show where even the children were able to make their contribution for our whole community”. The five French students continued the tour with Gen Rosso, stopping first at Antsirinala where they were welcomed – in a festive and friendly atmosphere – by a school of 200 children and young people twinned with the school in Villeneuve, and then on to Ambatondrazaka. Here they met the Focolare community – a true celebration because it was the first time Gen Rosso had landed in Madagascar. “I experienced incredible moments of cultural exchange that happened in a completely natural way between Gen Rosso and the humanitarian Madagascan people,” said Dumoulin Nicolas, a French reporter who was following the tour, “including a group of French students who were here for an exchange. It has been the adventure of a lifetime”. A stop in Lebanon Another important trip for the international band was the visit to the Lebanon for the HeARTmony. project. After their experience in Bosnia, this training programme made a stop in Beirut in November for young people interested in social inclusion methodologies for migrants and refugees through art. It spurred them on to strengthen intercultural skills and reflect on the causes and effects of migration in the Mediterranean. Adelson, Michele, Ygor and Juan Francisco – all members of Gen Rosso met with young people from Caritas Egypt, Caritas Lebanon and members of Humanité Nouvelle Lebanon. As they landed in Beirut they were warmly welcomed by members of the different focolares. The main aim of the trip was to learn how to use music and art as tools for bringing people together, especially people living on the margins of society, such as migrants, to make them feel welcome in a community. “Art is a powerful medium,” Gen Rosso’s Adelson commented, “music reaches places we often can’t reach with words. A person can feel loved and respond to love in many different ways”. The method is always the same: through singing, music and percussion workshops they try to bring out the  participants’ talents as they work towards putting together the final performance. One evening, the band and project participants were invited to a party organised by the Focolare community in Beirut: making music together and getting to know each other. It was an opportunity to share some life experiences and find out more about what these young Lebanese people are going through today. “I want to leave, but I feel that Lebanon will only change if I have the courage to stay, if I put into practice what I have learnt,” one young girl said during the evening. “At this time, it is difficult to tell young people to stay, but this girl’s words struck me deeply,” continued Adelson. “I think this is where we can start again: putting love into the things we do in order to become protagonists of our own reality. Perhaps we won’t see the results immediately but I am sure that soon Lebanon will be reborn, like a phoenix”!

Lorenzo Russo