1) To
introduce music therapy,
through both carefully planned experientials and poignant in-service
presentations, to a location that does not currently have music therapy
services, and which we believe would benefit deeply from such services. 2) To offer
music therapy students
the opportunity to expand their skills and gain multicultural awareness
through direct engagement with an ethnically diverse population. 3)
To promote the use of music therapy as a tool for community service and social action, and to encourage and inspire the current volunteers to become the next generation of outreach leaders.
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Grand
Cayman is a culturally diverse
nation, with ethnic groups coming from Jamaica, Cuba, and all over the
Caribbean, as well as England, South Africa, the USA, and many other
countries. As such, it will give the students volunteering on this
project the
opportunity to expand their multicultural awareness by meeting and
working with people from a variety of cultures.
Although the Cayman
Islands may be a popular tourist destination, like many of the Caribbean
islands,
individuals with mental or physical disabilities constitute an under-served sector of the population that would greatly benefit from an introduction
to music therapy. From the children at the early intervention program and the special needs school to the adults
with disabilities who struggle to get the services they need; there are many people ready and eager for the opportunity to experience the potential of music therapy.
The economic disparity on the island creates both the need for services and the financial resources to provide them. We believe that this puts Grand Cayman in a good position to incorporate music therapy into its regular health services offerings on a more permanent basis after we leave. There has been a recent push on the island to close some of the gaps in their current mental health system. They have created a position within the Ministry of Health to specifically develop a comprehensive mental health program; hired new counselors; and even brought in the country's first speech pathologist. Given that information, it seems that this would be a promising time to also introduce the transformative potential of music therapy. It is our deepest hope that through this service project we might be able to make a lasting impact on the people of Grand Cayman by presenting them with another possible modality to compliment their expanding mental health service offerings.
We believe that this international trip will provide an invaluable experience for both the students involved, and the recipients of our efforts in Grand Cayman.
