El Sistema Calgary Multicultural Orchestra Foundation is a charity organization with the purpose to create, implement and operate music programs for children and youth who might not otherwise have an opportunity to learn music, and people with special needs and/or at-risk behavior. The Foundation promotes healthy social development of multicultural children and youth from low-income families and communities through quality and inclusive musical activities.

El Sistema Calgary aids children and youth to make good use of free time by fighting loneliness, low self esteem, and increasing their sense of belonging. Through our activities we help to develop language and literacy abilities, coordinate fine and gross motor skills, enhance academic learning, deepen abstract thinking, and of course, increase their appreciation for the arts. All this drives intellectual, emotional, and social development to children and youth, their families and the community.

With the COVID-19 outbreak we have moved our regular activities to online music classes, having outstanding support from students, parents and teachers. 95% of our students joined the Calgary Multicultural Orchestra Online Music Sessions program. To improve the quality of our new online program we need 5 computers/laptops  to support our organization and families with internet connection issues (3.5 K); 4 stream cams to make more effective teacher sessions (0.8 K); Sound Recording, editing, restoration and mastering software (0.1 K)