does exactly 20 years that the Development Center “Learning to Live” began with a silent work providing support and help to families living with HIV, particularly with 25 patient families of the San Borja Arriarán Hospital. This, with the aim of improving their quality of life in the process of living with said disease.
On this way, the organization –headed by Professor Pedro Aguirre- develops various activities and projects in the line of support, orientation, training, and entrepreneurship for families, but they also carry out important prevention work through artistic and cultural initiatives that seek not only to entertain attendees through music., but to educate and inform about the different mechanisms that exist to prevent the spread of the virus, that according to figures provided by the Ministry of Health in 2015, during the years 2009 Y 2013 increased by a 74% cases of HIV-AIDS in adolescents 15 a 19 years.
This is how “Reggae Por La Vida” was born, Reggae music festival that the Development Center has been organizing for fifteen years. It started as a small gig in a municipal school in Peñalolén, at the Valle Hermoso Educational Center where Pedro Aguirre has taught Technological Sciences classes since 1995, and whose constancy and persistence over time has already positioned it as an important platform for Chilean Reggae..
Sponsored since its beginnings by the historic and pioneering Reggae band in Chile, Gondwana, who every year are pillars of line up, for this one 2016 The contest has expanded its borders by incorporating international artists of the genre, as is the case of Reggae is Life from Bolivia, who will share the stage with some Chilean classics like Saturn Y Dekiruza, in addition to icons of the national scene such as Boomer & The RudeBoys Band, the Latin rock reggae of the also historical football, the dancehall of Digital Dread, Contrababylon continuing their celebration of 14 years of history, evangelical hip hop reggae GNS, and last but not least, girl power with the participation of the hiphop soul duo Free Brunette, and the recent ones confirmed to the event Brown Suga and MaialeM, both presenting their new reggae dancehall material.
Reggae Chalice spoke with Pedro Aguirre, who told us that the last two years of the festival have had greater mass and attendance, which has allowed said funds raised to be used to purchase machines for family businesses, training and delivery of a gift card with money to each family, for the purposes they deem appropriate. He also told us about some of the challenges they have for the next five years..
“We are concerned about two things: the hospital has challenged us with 17 new families, in addition to the 25 those we already work with. All of them (the 17), that we have been involving step by step in the development center, They are all foreigners. It's a tremendously big challenge., We are starting from scratch with them and our hope is that they can gradually integrate into these groups of small businesses., small family businesses, that they can network with each other, “Sharing machines and knowledge”, “Professor Pedro” commented, how he is affectionately identified in the community.
He added that “we want to achieve training for the mothers, so they know how to manage and maintain the machines; training to be better professionals, There are several challenges ahead and we are committed to that for the next five years”.
Finally, The promoter of this initiative called on everyone to collaborate with this cause, attending the event this Sunday 31 of July, at the Chimkowe Cultural Center in Peñalolén.
“We are waiting for you all, all those who have accompanied us for so many years, all those who know the concept of Reggae Por La Vida, fundamentally linked to the Rasta world that has been our support for years, for the brotherhood and principles we share, and who have always been present. This is a spiritual party, more than a business, more than a concert, a spiritual festival where the family gathers. We invite all who like Reggae, to those who love beautiful music, its principles and values, this Sunday, starting at 16 hrs, to enjoy and share a beautiful Sunday, with good music, but more than that, with purposes and life projects, with meaning to life, What is the meaning of Reggae music?, pointed out.
