AKRON, Ohio — Music is often thought of as the universal language. At the Himalayan Language Arts and Culture Academy, that language comes to life.

What You Need To Know

  • Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy in Akron has been teaching for nearly a decade 

  • The nonprofit organization relies on donations from the community

  • With weekly language and music classes, they are working to bridge the cultural gap 

  • Founders are holding a fundraising event on Saturday, April 8 to keep the organization alive

“We are connecting with the local communities and then have been running this music academy since 2013,” said founder Puspa Gajmer.

Gajmer has been teaching music lessons at the academy and knows its cultural importance.

 “I feel that this arts and culture music and dance, this language, this will really connect us to each other,” said Gajmer. 

The cultural connection happens every weekend, when the halls of the academy are filled with the sounds of different cultures. 

Gopal Ghtani is the director of the academy and said in order to continue teaching, they need help.

“The basic thing is money. So without money, we cannot do anything else. So everything depends on money,” said Ghtani.

The nonprofit's founders came up with an idea to raise funds.

“We expect, like maybe many people, like whoever we invited, they may come and they may help us to support our academy,” said Ghtani.

Gajmer said he hopes donors will open their hearts and their wallets so the work of the academy can continue. 

“We are learning from native peoples, you know? We are learning from other communities and we are giving, you know, something to them, you know, that's how we extend the arts and culture,” said Gajmer.

The Himmilayan Language Arts and Culture Academy will be holding their fundraising event in Akron from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.