Soka University of America students
gathered in Founders Hall Sunday to listen to music and promote awareness for a
good cause at a show entitled “Melody for Freedom.”

The university’s Free the Children (FTC) club and Vita Leonis Philharmonic
Orchestra (VLPO) joined together to raise money to preserve a children’s
library in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

Aiki Segawa, 21, is vice president of the SUA chapter of FTC, a 17-year-old charity and
non-governmental organization (NGO). She became involved in FTC while attending
middle school in Japan.

What interested Segawa was there was “no such thing as ‘You can’t do it
because you’re a child,’” she said.

Segawa had led her high school division of FTC in raising money, which they
donated toward building and stocking a children’s library in Ulan Bator. She
had the opportunity to visit the completed project when she studied abroad last
December.

While she was there, Segawa learned of the library’s importance to the
children. Besides providing books, the building serves as protection against
Mongolia’s harsh climate and poor air quality.

“They come to the library to warm themselves,” Segawa said. “It’s a place
for children to work on homework after school.”

Bue she also learned that the library was expected to close sometime this
year, due to a lack of funding. Segawa presented her dilemma to SUA’s FTC,
which already had decided to fund drought relief in Kenya.

“After discussion, we decided—just for this concert—let’s focus on Mongolia,”
said Junko Tomae, 20, FTC’s president. “It’s kind of an emergency.” 

For the second year in a row, the VLPO collaborated with FTC to provide
entertainment for their fundraiser.

“We started [doing] the benefit concert last year and VLPO offered to do it
this year due to its success,” said Segawa. “We have been working closely with
the club for this concert.”

During the hour and a half program, a brass ensemble performed Mozart’s “Ave
Verum Corpus,” “Pink Panther” and a selection from Tylman Susato’s “The
Danserye.” The VLPO performed “Danse Macabre” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

“It was really, really successful,” said VLPO member Gabby O’Connor, 20. “I
was freaking out to the very end, but it was one of those things that just
happened to work out right when we needed it to.”

“It was (for) a good cause to come here,” said 19-year-old attendee Brian
Key.

The benefit raised $205.84, with all proceeds going to preserving the
children’s library.

Source: http://alisoviejo.patch.com