After a successful fundraiser concert featuring a performance of J. S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne announced that it raised €45,000 for Casa Hogar, an organization in the Chocó region of Colombia that runs educational projects for girls, women, and other marginalized groups.

Reportedly, nearly 40% of those living in Chocó experience extreme poverty, and only one in three people can read. Women and girls are particularly affected by these conditions: Chocó has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the country, and domestic and sexual violence are widespread.

The donations will be used to fund the expansion of the Casa Hogar Niña María boarding school, which teaches disadvantaged girls from rural areas. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian girls are offered scholarships to receive an education, as well as a safe place to live.

At present, the school can only teach and house 15 girls, but with the donations, the capacity will be increased to 48 girls in the future.

"This concert impressively demonstrated what music can achieve: it touches, connects and inspires people to spread hope," said Dr Theodor Rüber, founder and 1st chairman of Casa Hogar Deutschland e.V. "I am extremely grateful that this special concert by the Gürzenich Orchestra with Casa Hogar cultural ambassador Anna Lucia Richter and other fantastic soloists has also resulted in a record amount of donations."

"I would like to thank our audience for attending the concert and making donations, which will enable us to support a special social project," said Stefan Englert, director of the Gürzenich Orchestra. "The Gürzenich Orchestra sees it as its duty to bring music to all people and to move them with sound. Music connects people, regardless of social and personal status, regardless of the culture and place that shapes our lives. We want to reach out to those who are not on the sunny side of life with the power of music and enrich their lives."