TOMODACHI Goldman Sachs Music Outreach Program Hosts Workshops at Junior High Schools in Tohoku

From October to November 2024, the TOMODACHI Goldman Sachs Music Outreach Program was held at four junior high schools in Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures. A total of 560 students collaborated with members of HEART Global, a U.S. nonprofit organization, to create singing and dancing performances.

The program included two-day workshops at Haramachi Daisan Junior High School in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, and Nakano Junior High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. One-day workshops were also held at Koriyama Junior High School and Toka Junior High School, both located in Sendai City. Although some students seemed hesitant at first, the cast encouraged them with words like, “Just give it a try,” gradually bringing out more smiles and enthusiasm. Reflecting on the experience, one student remarked, “At first, I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but when I followed the cast’s dance moves, it felt incredible!” By the end of the program, the cast and students came together to deliver a truly inspiring performance.

The students were repeatedly told by the cast that “support” was a key element of the program. They began to find joy in trusting and supporting one another, and they praised each other’s efforts throughout the program.A teacher from one of the host schools commented, “This program reaffirmed the incredible potential that our students have.”