More than a decade ago, Playing For Change was inspired when one man, Roger Ridley, sang familiar words to a popular song: “No matter who you are. No matter where you go in life. At some point, you’re gonna need somebody to stand by you.” For Co-Founder Mark Johnson, that moment ignited a passion to use music to connect people and to create a better world.
Meet some of our current students; they will inspire you. Consider funding a scholarship so that these children and their classmates can experience the joy of music in their lives and they can know what it feels like to have you stand by them.
Today, more than 1000 children around the world are learning music and dance every week. This is possible because people like you are willing to Stand By Them.
Stand By Me Scholarships provide funding for students to attend PFCF music programs for an entire year.

Playing For Change Foundation

Ecole de Musique de Kirina

Mirpur Music Program

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<title>Playing For Change | Stand By Me Scholarship Program | Playing For…</title>

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Gugulethu

Cape Town

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What We Do | Playing For Change Foundation

PFCF

Worldwide

Culture is a Right PFCF

Culture is a Right! | Playing For Change Foundation

Uganda

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New Music Program in Uganda! | Playing For Change Foundation

Roberto Luti

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Slide Guitar Tutorial with Roberto Luti | Playing For Change Foundation

Kathmandu

Nepal

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Witnessing the Power of Music | Playing For Change Foundation

Khlong Toey Music Program

Paintbrush Arts Program

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Making It Happen | Playing For Change Foundation

Udayapur Music School

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The Power of Music | Playing For Change Foundation

Baaba Maal

Toumani Diabaté

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The Change is Here | Playing For Change Foundation

Ubuntu Music Program

Masaka

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Ubuntu Music Program | Rwanda | Playing For Change Foundation

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Music Always Unites Us | Playing For Change Foundation

Musica Music Institute

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My Dream Come True | Playing For Change Foundation

Kirina

Bamako

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Music Students Jamming in Mali | Playing For Change Foundation

Stand By Me Scholarship Program | Playing For Change Foundation

Cajuru Music Program

Curitiba

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Cajuru Music Program in Brazil | Playing For Change Foundation

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Meet the Students: Guem | Kirina, Mali | Playing For Change Foundation

Udayapur Music Program

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A Celebration of Human Connection (EP2) | Playing For Change Foundation

Bizung School

Tamale

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Meet the Students: Saumet | Tamale, Ghana | Playing For Change Foundation

Mother's Society

Tintale Village

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To Bring the Change | Mother’s Society | Playing For Change Foundation

Baja Musical Arts Initiative

Redes 2025

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Baja Musical Arts Initiative | Tijuana, Mexico | Playing For Change Foundation

Dhaka

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The Mirpur Music Program | Dhaka, Bangladesh | Playing For Change Foundation

Joudour Sahara Music Program

M'Hamid El Ghizlane

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From Mississippi to the Saharan Desert | Playing For Change Foundation

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Meet the Students: Halik | Tamale, Ghana | Playing For Change Foundation

Bangladesh

Thailand

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A Celebration of Human Connection (EP1) | Playing For Change Foundation

Mother’s Society

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A Celebration of Human Connection (EP3) | Playing For Change Foundation

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New Equipment for our school in Mali | Playing For Change Foundation

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A Teacher's Life is Changed in Mali | Playing For Change Foundation

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Music Unites Schools in Mali and Brazil | Playing For Change Foundation

Imvula Music Program

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Meet the students: Mphumzi | Gugulethu, South Africa | Playing For Change Foundation

Bangkok

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Thank You For Believing | Khlong Toey - Bangkok, Thailand | Playing For Change Foundation

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International Women's Day: Celebrating 10 Years of Impact | Playing For Change Foundation

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Celebrating 10 Years of Positive Change Through Music | Playing For Change Foundation

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Music is the Key | Ghana Meets Mali Through a Song | Playing For Change Foundation

Original Song

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Music Students in Ghana Unite to Record an Original Song | Playing For Change Foundation

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One Act of Compassion | Students in Thailand help their Nepali friends | Playing For Change Foundation

PFC Foundation

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Jean Paul Samputu: Music and Forgiveness | 20 Years After the Genocide | Playing For Change Foundation

Mermans Mosengo

Clarence Bekker

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The Playing For Change Band Visits Playing For Change Foundation School in Brazil | Playing For Change Band

A Look at the Tintale Village in Nepal PFCF

A Look at the Tintale Village in Nepal | Playing For Change Foundation

Rwanda

Mambo Sawa Sawa PFCF

Mambo Sawa Sawa: PFCF students and staff in Rwanda and Uganda come together to record a song

Cahuita

Cahuita music program PFCF

Welcome to the Cahuita music program in Costa Rica | Playing For Change Foundation

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Stand By Me Scholarship Program | Playing For Change Foundation

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