Harmonizing Hearts at Olive Crest

By Caleb Tsai

August 18, 2023

Andrew Yan (bottom left) and Vivian Huang (upper left) explain the guitar sheet music to two young campers.

On July 11th and 18th, members of Fiato Foundation visited the Olive Crest Adoption Agency in Bellflower, CA and the children participating in the organization's Summer Wellness Camp. These high school volunteers of the nonprofit foundation (Elijah Mei, Andrew Yan, Vivian Huang, Josh Zhang, and Caleb Tsai) brought with them a passion for music, which is what they hoped to pass on to the enthusiastic kids. The aim of these sessions went beyond just teaching the campers notes and keys, as both Olive Crest and Fiato Foundation sought to create an environment that encouraged mental wellness through music expression.

Josh Zhang (in front and to the left) and Caleb Tsai watch over students using their bows for the first time.

A highlight of the camp was the excitement and curiosity from the children as many of them explored the new instruments for the first time. From the violin to the piano to the guitar, the campers were free to choose whichever instruments that they were interested in, allowing their own individual tastes to shine through. By receiving one-on-one guidance from the volunteers, all of the young musicians quickly mastered classics such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Ode to Joy". One student, Bridget, learned her piece so quickly on the violin that she even found the confidence to perform it in front of her peers just an hour or two after playing the instrument for the very first time.

The event ended on a high note, as the children went to lunch carrying their newfound skills and a love for music with them. However, our mission is that it doesn't end here. As we continue to work with Olive Crest, our hope is that we can continually provide the children opportunities to immerse themselves in music through more lessons and performances, even allowing the children to own instruments of their own through future donation campaigns.

As we can see from these two days, it is clear that even a short period of music learning can be the start of something truly impactful. As a powerful tool for wellness, music can bring about joy, a sense of accomplishment, and open doors for a creative and emotional outlet among children that need it most. As we look to expand our reach, we know that our work here at Fiato Foundation has the ability to transform lives, and this is just the beginning of that journey.