A decade ago, retired Austrian opera singer Christian Boesc decided to use his talents to teach classical music to children in southern Chile.

He founded the Papageno Music Foundation that so far has reached nearly 600 children, many of whom are Mapuche Indians living in Patagonia, one of the most beautiful but poorest regions of Chile.

What began as a philanthropic exercise became a unique pioneer programme to teach children music and mathematics. According to specialists, there is a change in the cerebral cortex of the brain when music is incorporated into the learning of maths and science.

This change would improve the learning process in general and help some of these children - many of whose parents are illiterate - compete for university scholarships.

This initiative could help level the playing field for children from underpriviledged backgrounds and contribute to greater social inclusion.

Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from Villarica, Chile.