“Beauty exists to fascinate work, work exists to be reborn” was the phrase of Polish poet Cyprian Norwid that motivated the start of our cultural projects in 2009. The starting point was the realization that it is not enough to satisfy basic needs for people to be happy, especially in a country facing a humanitarian crisis like Venezuela. The much-awaited next step is also not sufficient: offering development opportunities through education and work so that people can participate in the construction of their destinies. Something more is needed. Human beings need beauty through expressions that captivate everyday work and, thus, be reborn at every moment.

When we started our project “Music and Work,” alongside maestro Aquiles Báez, we didn’t imagine the inexhaustibility of the proposal and how it would touch the hearts of so many people. The initial exercise was to document the work songs of the Venezuelan countryside and songs that, in one way or another, were connected to occupations or celebrated their fruits. But I never imagined the steps that it could take. As a kind of musical testament, before his earthly departure, Aquiles indicated the key people to continue the project.

“Music expresses what cannot be said – only – with words, but it cannot remain silent,” said maestro Víctor Hugo, and the truth is that these years we are surrounded by testimonies that cannot be silenced. While there are life stories of many people we have shaped, turning them into songs was a great challenge, but our friend singer-songwriter, José Alejandro Delgado, accepted the challenge. In this way, and as a good disciple of Aquiles, he took the baton, and we started volume II of our project in November.

After learning the story of Gabriela, a graduate of the Gastronomy 360 program in Guatire, José Alejandro spent a day with her to understand her daily life, the value of her work and effort, and, after that, composed the song “Para nunca olvidar” (To never forget). This song demonstrates how music is perhaps one of the most sublime forms of art with the ability to penetrate the human soul, thus communicating beyond words. In this way, we want to show the impact of social projects and the change in people’s lives.

It’s about a new way of seeing, of listening, of facing the most transcendent aspects of life, starting from everyday work. The same thing happens when we await Christmas. It is to never forget and to not let the most imposing act of freedom in all of human history remain silent: God, the creator, the omnipotent, the origin of love, the beginning and the end of everything, who decided to enter history in the most carnal and humble way, and thus keep us company.