No to Excuses, Yes to Dreams: A Drumming Charity Milestone

Say No to Excuses, Yes to Dreams: A Drumming Charity Milestone

With great joy, I’m writing about one of the most important achievements of my life so far: the successful completion of my first independent donation project to fund the purchase of electronic drums. Only the final step remains — the handover to Primary School Stranje — and then we’ll be able to say it together: “No to excuses, yes to dreams.”

What once existed only as virtual project work at university has now been replaced by real-world project experience — one that has enriched me with countless new insights and lessons learned. Most importantly, this project will allow young talents to develop their potential without obstacles, helping strengthen the future competitiveness of Slovenian drummers across Europe and beyond. It would be unfair not to mention the outstanding donors who proved they are open to change and genuinely supportive of collaboration with young people — something that is crucial for the future.

This was also clearly demonstrated by the school’s principal, who supported the project and provided space at the school. It made me smile to reflect on how times change: as a teenager, I occasionally caused him a few grey hairs (he was my school teacher and PE instructor), and today we’re working together on a project of real significance. During our first meeting, he even shared that he himself had once tried to support young people through a similar initiative — though with less success at the time.

The project began with a fair amount of bureaucracy, which I managed with the help of experienced family members and advice from no fewer than three different accountants. Visiting potential donors was no easier and took a considerable amount of time, which inevitably affected my playing to some extent. Still, the invested time and effort proved worthwhile — and I believe it will continue to pay off in the future. What surprised me most was that I didn’t encounter a single donor who responded negatively or dismissively, even though I had prepared myself for that possibility. There was occasional scepticism, but most responses were either well-reasoned refusals or, admittedly, empty promises. All in all, this experience filled me with optimism and reinforced my belief that we are far from being a closed-minded society — and that with a bit of goodwill and selflessness, we can collectively help shape a better future.

The next generations will undoubtedly play a key role in that future, which is why I’m already looking forward to handing over the drums and meeting all those whose eyes light up and pulse quickens at the sight of this instrument. On that occasion, I’ll also be preparing a special surprise — one that I truly believe will leave a lasting impression.