We have recently been able to reconnect with four of our Partners in India by reaching out to them through WhatsApp. Utilising a different digital platform to communicate with some of our Partners worldwide fits with our current International Programme strategic aim to explore new technologies to facilitate and strengthen overseas activities.

We first tested WhatsApp as a potential communication route between us and our Local Partners in 2020 with our Local Trainers from Rwanda. This proved to be an excellent and efficient way to correspond; and as a result of using WhatsApp, our direct relationship with our Partners strengthened and 3 locally-led training events were delivered by our Rwandan Trainers in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In fact, all coordination happened together with our Partners through only WhatsApp!

We have also used WhatsApp when needing to liaise and quickly share information with Partners in other countries, such as the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan, to facilitate the coordination of our activities.

Now that we have re-engaged with some of our Partners in India over the past month, we have already started working together with them to develop our plans to support them in the ways that they need in 2023 to strengthen their music programmes and help them to increase opportunities for vulnerable people to access music.

Whenever possible and is best, we will continue to use WhatsApp with our Local Partners worldwide.