Chapter Two

ONE MAN'S TRASH ...
The Landfill Harmonic Orchestra

Cateura, Paraguay is a slum that's built on a landfill.  The 2500 families that live there survive by rifling through the more than 1500 tons of solid waste that arrives each day, looking for things to sell or recycle. Education is limited and the water supply is dangerously polluted. When it rains the entire town is flooded with contaminated water.

Out of the rubble and in an almost hopeless environment something special and truly awe-inspiring was created. An orchestra was formed with instruments made from trash.

A young man named Juan has a cello made out of an oil can and old cooking tools. He treasures his instrument and plays the Prelude to Bach's Cello Suite No 1... beautifully! 

They all agree, "Life would be worthless without music." The human spirit can't be measured and with the formation of the Landfill Harmonic hope is once again alive. 

These kids have proved that where there's a will, there's a way and in this case... 

"One man's trash is another man's treasure."

This video tells the story of how this all happened. Its not just the kids... there were some amazing adults that got involved.  Truly an inspirational story!