Our mission

The effects of violence and poverty continue to devastate and traumatize entire societies across Congo. Operanauts is dedicated to helping young people heal from this trauma and inspire future growth in their communities. Music has the power to transform us and provide the hope that vulnerable people need to thrive.

90%

of Congolese youth show signs of Post Traumatic Stress

$562

is the average annual income across Congo

6 million

lives claimed by two decades of war in Congo

WHAT WE DO

Operanauts’ opera-related initiatives tackle the bleak reality of life in Kinshasa head-on. Our programs directly target the Kinshasa community to promote a healing environment for people to grow and recover from their trauma. These initiatives include our Opera Fellows program, our annual Opera Music Festival and our Opera-Making program that commissions opera productions in Kinshasa.

OUR GOAL

Survivors in Congo have experienced mass killings, rape and many other forms of severe trauma. Due to the complexity of this environment, the youth are at a greater risk of struggling to develop empathy and compassion toward themselves and others. Our goal is to unite the people of Kinshasa and end the cycle of violence and poverty through opera music. We believe that investing in the skill, training, and development of musicians and artists will strengthen the future of the arts in Kinshasa and contribute to their shared dignity and beauty.

“Music…can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.”

LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Our progress

Operanauts is dedicated to sharing the art form of opera directly to young people in Kinshasa, Congo – find out more about our progress and future goals.