In early March 2023, United Nations Messenger of Peace and renowned violinist Midori traveled to Braga, Portugal, to meet and play with a group of young Afghan music students who were evacuated from Afghanistan when the Taliban came to power in 2021 and banned all non-religious music in the country.
Over 10 days, students from the National Music Institute of Afghanistan (ANIM) worked and performed alongside Midori as part of her artistic residency in Braga, organized through her International Orchestra Residencies Program (ORP), which aims to provide musical experiences for young musicians. Since 2022, 58 students from ANIM have settled in the northern Portuguese cities of Braga and Guimaraes.
On the occasion of her visit to Europe, the UN Regional Information Centre in Brussels sat down with Midori to discuss her collaboration with ANIM and her work with youth orchestras through the non-profit organizations she has founded.
“There is nothing more inspiring than this,” said Midori. “Rather than deciding to be victimized by something that should have never happened to them, they take this opportunity to go further with their education, to feel like they are becoming a member of our community and our global society.”