8/9/2019 Monaco Boys Choir Concludes USA Tour with FPCD; 3 Concerts Benefit Youth Center in Timor-Leste

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONACO BOYS CHOIR CONCLUDES USA TOUR:

THREE CONCERTS BENEFIT YOUTH CENTER IN TIMOR-LESTE

(The Monaco Boys Choir, Maestro Pierre Debat, FPCD Executive Director Claudia Abate; Metropolitan Club, Washington DC)

New York, New York July 28, 2010 The Monaco Boys Choir, under the direction of Maestro Pierre

Debat, traveled to the United States to perform a concert tour beginning 5 July in New York City and

ending 26 July in Miami, Florida. With Monsieur Debats initiative and under the High Patronage of His

Serene Highness Prince Albert II, it was decided that a selection of the 2010 concert series in the United

States will benefit a project in Timor-Leste. These concerts took place in St. Bridgets Church in

Philadelphia, thanks to Mr. John B. Kelly III, Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., thanks to H.E.

Ambassador Gilles Noghes, and in the Florida International University Wertheim Concert Hall in Miami,

thanks to Honorary Vice Consul in Miami Tomas Abreu.

Formed in 1974 by His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III and Monsieur Philippe Debat, the Monaco Boys

Choir has always been linked to humanitarian causes. Following in the footsteps of their Philanthropic

Prince Albert II, the youth perform concerts to raise necessary awareness about important humanitarian

needs. During the selected concerts, it was the honour of Executive Director Claudia Abate to speak to

the audiences about the special project the choir in engaged in: the building of a youth center in

Maubara, Timor- Leste.

8/9/2019 Monaco Boys Choir Concludes USA Tour with FPCD; 3 Concerts Benefit Youth Center in Timor-Leste

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Youth compose nearly 60% of the population of Timor-Leste. After suffering through years of conflict

and poverty, these youth lack locations to engage in positive activity and are therefore in dire need of

youth centers. Ms. Abate and Monsieur Debat have worked hard over the last year to help this project

flourish by creating a concept that would bridge cultural divides, educate, create responsible

citizenship, and build upon the little known history between Monaco and Timor-Leste, said the FPCD

Executive Director and added that these concert are the culmination of those efforts.

Pierre Debat recalls how he was marked by the event that united for the first time the Monaco Boys

Choir and FPCD in Singapore in July 2009, stating that the discovery of the action taken by Claudia Abate

in Timor-Leste led to his proposal to offer Les Petits Chanteurs' participation in a project uniting children

in Monaco and Timor. "The Youth Center project is humanitarian, educational and artistic which I'm

happy to associate the Choir in the framework of our programs for needy children. It is essential to

convey to younger generations the fundamental values of generosity, selflessness and interest in others

to guide them towards finding a better world. I believe in our common will to that effect and I can only

rejoice" said Mr. Debat.

While on tour, the members of the Monaco Boys Choir were able to take a break and have fun visitinghistorical sites, playing soccer, going swimming, and learning cultural norms of each city. It is both their

hope and the FPCDs that their efforts can help create opportunities to do the same for children in

Timor-Leste.

As one 15 year old Petit Chanteur put it, it is good that we are able to sing, not just for the public, but

for children on the other side of the world, children that we have not even met.

The Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization associated

with the United Nations Department of Public Information dedicated to assisting post conflict countries

with projects essential to their reconstruction, including the demobilization /disbanding of child soldiers,reintegration of war veterans, the creation of meaningful employment and cultural preservation.

Through direct education, action and development (or the promotion of global partnership for such

efforts), the FPCDs mission is to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals set forth by the UN. The

FPCDs landmark project is the Prince Rainier III Maternity Clinic, the first of its kind in Timor-Leste.

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

Arielle Messuti, Director of Public Relations

245 Park Avenue, 24th Floor

NYC, 10167 USA

Tel.: (212) 643. 5467

E-Mail: amessuti@postconflictdev.org

Website: www.postconflictdev.org