Sweden’s Dream Orchestra Named a Winner of the 2021 Ockenden International Prize

Congratulations to Sweden’s Dream Orchestra Young Leaders Program for being one of four winners of the 2021 Ockenden International Prize. This global honor has been awarded for nine years by Ockenden International to support the rights of all refugees and displaced people, in any location, to a life of dignity, and to help them achieve self-reliance and independence. Sweden’s Dream Orchestra (founded in 2016 by Ron Davis Alvarez) was born as a safe place for unaccompanied minor refugees—who arrived in Sweden fleeing from violence and war in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iran—to integrate, using music as a tool. The Dream Orchestra started with 13 students, and today has over 300 children and young people with refugee, migrant, and other backgrounds, from many countries of origin. Visit the Ockenden site to learn about the Prize, and read more about the honor on the Dream Orchestra website.