No Matter the Medium, Ensemble Learning Makes Leaders of Us All

 
The Ensemble seeks to connect and inform all people who are committed to ensemble music education for youth empowerment and social change.
 
The Ensemble Newsletter

Regions

Africa

Asia/Oceania

Europe

Latin America

North America

Topics

Teaching & Learning

Program Design

Student Voice & Leadership

Community Building

Collaborations

Funding & Support

Perspectives & Collective Action

News & Resources

No Matter the Medium, Ensemble Learning Makes Leaders of Us All

Saurabh Sainani, Program Lead, Enabling Leadership

04-02-2025

Children from nine locations across India thoroughly enjoying themselves during ELevate 2025. Photo: Enabling Leadership.

For many organizations outside of our shared community, leadership is viewed as a title or formal role—something to aspire to professionally. When it comes to youth empowerment, though, it means a bit more. We see it in the everyday actions, habits, and mindsets that empower individuals to make a difference. Leadership, for us, is about inspiring others simply by living your values.

At Enabling Leadership (EL), we strive to support young people as they find their way toward those actions and values. Operating in multiple locations across India, both urban and rural, as well as in Nairobi, Kenya, in Singapore, and in Cambodia’s rural Battambang District, we establish programs through local partnerships that use creative experiential mediums—music, soccer (or football, as we call it), and Lego play—as tools for building leadership skills in students from government and low-income private schools. Over a sustained period of six years, during the critical ages of 9–15, students engage in activities that enhance both their technical and leadership abilities. Currently, we reach 10,000 children across 125 schools.

Critical to our work is a consistent focus on ensemble learning, even across these ostensibly different creative arenas. By pushing their own artistic and technical limits, each child grows into a role model and a positive contributor—not by assuming authority but by leading through example. Our programs help students work together to harness collective strengths and overcome challenges.

EL Build students working together. Photo: Enabling Leadership.

In our music program EL Create, for example, students collaboratively write and perform songs, learning to balance individual talent with group harmony. In football, or EL Play, mixed-gender teams confront stereotypes and tough competition by playing side-by-side, learning that unity and mutual support are key to success. Similarly, in the Lego program EL Build, students combine ideas to build innovative models, teaching them that creativity flourishes in a cooperative environment.

By focusing on values such as humility, empathy, and the willingness to serve the greater good, our curriculum reinforces the idea that leadership is being the best version of ourselves while enabling others. Each child learns that while personal growth is crucial, real change comes when we work together, fostering a strong community that can tackle any challenge and make a positive difference in the world.

Our program locations typically serve multiple schools, each selected based on specific criteria to ensure optimal conditions for programmatic success. In practice, some schools may offer the football program, others music, and still others Lego play. In cases where schools meet all the necessary conditions—such as a large number of students, adequate space, robust school and government support, and dedicated staff—they may host more than one program. Ultimately, our goal is to provide every child access to all EL programs.

What does it all mean for our young learners? In addition to new problem-solving tools and a stronger sense of community, we aim to instill a holistic view of leadership. A leader, to us, exhibits the following traits:

A Role Model. Every leader is first a role model, someone who inspires others through actions rather than authority. By demonstrating the best aspects of humanity, a leader shows how to harness personal potential to excel in their own personal and professional capacity as well as to empower those around them. We encourage our students to practice leadership daily, whether through a kind word, thoughtful decision, or authentic presence. This everyday approach helps leadership feel more accessible through small, deliberate choices.

A Positive Contributor. True leadership also means working to bring about positive change for oneself and the larger community. At EL, we stress the importance of adding value wherever you are, be it in a classroom, at home, or in community settings. Leaders think beyond individual interests, taking responsibility for creating inclusive, supportive, and sustainable environments.

A Global Citizen. Today’s leaders must think globally, developing empathy and awareness to understand local challenges in a broader global context. Our students learn to value diverse perspectives and recognize that every positive action contributes to a fairer and more sustainable future.

Students performing an original song they wrote during an EL Create concert. Photo: Enabling Leadership.

Aliya, who began in our EL Play program, exemplifies these ideals. Motivated by her experiences learning teamwork, resilience, and community spirit, she returned as a teacher to EL—an inspiring full-circle moment. Her journey continued with her participation in the EMpower Leaders Lab. Through this initiative, Aliya and 24 other female leaders conducted Participatory Action Research, interviewing girls and women about their pandemic experiences. Her efforts contributed to the “COVID In Her Voice” report, which offered key policy recommendations for rebuilding post-pandemic communities.

Running an international nonprofit comes with its share of challenges—finding the right funders and partners; navigating cultural and language differences; complying with diverse legal environments; identifying and developing talent—but we have found success by identifying the right local partners, hiring the right people, and investing in their capacity-building.

The benefits are enormous, and not just for the pathways they offer. Students learn the truth that drives our work: ‘leading’ isn’t a big scary job we’re given. It is the act of caring, and the act of doing. What could be more rewarding than that?

April 2025, Capacity Building, Community Building, COVID Recovery, Cultural Awareness, Education Equity, Education Innovation, empathy, Enabling Leadership, ensemble learning, Experiential Learning, Girl Leadership, Global Citizenship, Grassroots Development, Holistic Leadership, Inclusivity, International Nonprofit, leadership development, Lego Play, Local Partnerships, Music Education, Participatory Action Research, Policy Recommendations, Positive Contribution, Role Models, Saurabh Sainani, Soccer Programs, Social Change, social impact, Sustainability, Teamwork, Youth Empowerment

Related Content

Share

ABOUT US MASTHEAD THE AMBASSADORS THE ARCHIVES SUBSCRIBE CONTACT
© Copyright 2022 Ensemble News