The FESNOJIV was originally founded in 1975 by Venezuela’s former Minister of Culture, José Antonio Abreu. Its main aim is to recruit children from lower-income Venezuelan families and educate them through the playing and performance of classical music. Today, 250,000 children from as young as 2 and a half upwards participate in the program and as many as 210 orchestras have been established throughout the country as a result. With the conviction that music can turn adversity into hope and save children from crime, the FESNOJIV provides free musical instruments to children and teaches them. Those children with outstanding talent are provided with housing and a salary in Caracas. The grant was used for purchasing musical instruments. The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela had a concert tour in Japan in December 2008,