According to a government statement, which VerAngola had access to, the meeting took place last Friday. "Five young graduates in classical and orchestral music, recently trained in Russia, under the National Staff Training Programme, were received this Friday, August 18th, by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço", reads if in the note.
According to the statement, the recent graduates – who are able to "train other musicians in this area" and who are musicians from the Orquestra Sinfónica Kapossoca – attended free training, which has the support of an initiative by the first lady. The said training program, the note said, benefits 39 students, including "12 to complete their degree next year and 32 in 2026".
Pedro Fançony, who accompanied the five young people to the meeting, thanked Ana Dias Lourenço: "Thanks to the first lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, who really was present at all times, even asking questions about how they were doing, if they were feel good, if there were mishaps, if there were difficulties".
The director of the Kapossoca Symphony Orchestra also "recognized the support of the Presidency of the Republic that accompanies students, free of charge, from primary school to university, as well as the support of the first lady in building bakeries that feed children in music schools," reads the statement.
According to the official, the aim is to "prevent children, in worse conditions than others, from becoming criminals".
In turn, the young graduates also took the opportunity to thank Ana Dias Lourenço. This was the case of violinist Marciel Hebo, who said he was "living a dream come true", now carrying with him "the mentality that we must move forward with the country, leverage Angolan culture and make it better known and well interpreted".
António Faustino, who also trained in violin, expressed "his satisfaction at returning to the country and contributing with his knowledge so that other young people passionate about classical and orchestral music can receive specific knowledge", says the statement.
Thus, he assured that "listening to the words" of Ana Dias Lourenço "was something very good": "Hearing the words of the first lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, was something very good. We are willing to contribute to music in our country ", he said, quoted in the note.
Eduardo Barrada, who graduated in musical art, considered that the training process "was very interesting", since it allowed him not only "to learn more about the art of playing musical instruments, but also to develop as a musician".
He said he was still "grateful" to the first lady for her support. "I am grateful to Your Excellency, for the sponsorship and for everything you have done for us," he said, quoted in the statement.
It should be noted that the Kapossoka Symphony Orchestra was created in 2008, and is mainly composed "of children, adolescents and young people from disadvantaged families". "Idealized by Professor Pedro Fançony, the project has schools in Samba, Zango III and Catete, in Luanda, and in the city of Sumbe, in Cuanza Sul", adds the statement.
