Tintale Village Mother’s Society

This collective of powerful women led by Devi Karki utilize artistic expression to teach young girls about the perils they face from dark-hearted traffickers. Devi discovered that all too many villagers are surprisingly unaware of this tragedy in their midst. Through creative storytelling and mesmerizing song and dance, the audience is introduced to trafficker’s techniques enabling them to recognize the potential threat when introduced to their village. “There is no question this basic education saves lives,” Devi states firmly.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International report most occurrences happen right here in the southeastern Tarai region. Young girls and women are easily trafficked because of their low cultural status. It is estimated that 10,000 girls, between the ages of 9-16, are trafficked each year from Nepal to India. Devi and her group are deeply committed to saving children from this tragic fate through education. PFCF’s support enables them to make costumes for the performance as well as provide travel expenses to neighboring villages to help spread the word.

Photos of the Tintale Village Mother's Society

École De Musique de Kirina

Our friend Mahamadou Diabate— brother of Grammy Award-winning Kora player Toumani Diabate, and a wonderful musician in his own right – approached the Playing For Change Foundation about building a music school in his native country of Mali. Thanks to his help and guidance, PFCF broke ground on its third music school on the African continent this year: Ecole de Musique de Kirina (Music School of Kirina). The school is located in the village of Kirina, approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Mali’s capital city, Bamako.

Kirina is a Griot village without any electricity, where the inhabitants live in humble straw roofed houses made of bricks that have dried in the sun's heat. The Griots play an essential role in Malian culture: they are the keepers of oral history and traditions, passing them on through music and poetry. The school will help the people of Kirina preserve and share their musical traditions, which have been slowly disappearing due to lack of teaching resources. Beyond the music school, we are also working to improve access to clean drinking water for the community, as well as provide solar power for the school.

The school opened its doors in October of 2010, and now offers classes in kora, djembe, balafon, and dance, as well as a workshop to teach the building and repair of traditional instruments. Many of the instruments used in the school are made by local artisans in Mali.

Photos of the school preparing to open

Photos of the school in action

Intore Culture & Music Center

The Intore Culture & Music Center will give hope, housing and music training to Rwanda’s future leaders by providing support to Rwandan street orphans affected by the 1994 genocide.

A powerful collaboration between LEAF International, the Playing For Change Foundation and Ivuka Arts Kigali, a local cultural center, have made the longtime dream of establishing a culture & music center for Rwandan street orphans a reality.

The Intore Culture & Music Center will provide housing, traditional drumming and performance classes to Rwandan orphans and the community. As a result of the 1994 Genocide and the AIDS epidemic, 70% of the Rwandan population is under 30—a large portion of which is made up of orphans without housing or education.



Rwanda's rich music, drumming and dance culture is preserved through mentoring local youth. Street children— through immersion in their cultural music traditions—receive valuable skill development, empowerment, self-esteem, and community connection.

"The music has changed us. We now feel proud and have hope. Through music and performance, we are example students to the rest of our community and our country" - LEAF Intore Cultural Troupe, program participants

The Intore Culture & Music Center is currently in development. During the LEAF International team's recent trip to Rwanda, the partnership with Ivuka Arts was solidified. Ivuka has already started to prepare for the Intore Cultural Troupe’s move to the new Center upon its completion, offering to provide transition assistance and planning for future opportunities for the Troupe. Locations are currently being scouted for the Center’s permanent home, with plans to open its doors in 2011.

LEAF International Website: LEAFInternational.org

Intore Culture & Music Center Website: IntoreMusic.org
 

Ntonga Music School

In the spring of 2009, the Playing For Change Foundation opened its first music school in Gugulethu, South Africa, a township ten miles (16 km) outside of Cape Town. Like many of the townships formed during the government-imposed Apartheid that lasted from 1948 to 1994, Gugulethu is a community in need of assistance and inspiration. South Africans are still striving to repair the damage and injustice created during Apartheid, and the Ntonga Music School is setting a strong example of how the country can come together to create a brighter future for its people. Today the people of Gugulethu are full of life and spirit, but have many obstacles to overcome. With drugs, crime, poverty, and disease prevalent in the township, the Ntonga Music School offers hope and possibility for the community and its youth.

In addition to building the school, the Playing For Change Foundation provides musical instruments, educational materials, and other necessities this center of compassion and creativity requires. The school is lead by a dedicated staff of music instructors and trained personnel who understand the unique challenges their students face. In addition to classrooms and rehearsal space, the school also serves as a community center where guest musicians from Cape Town and beyond come to perform for the students and community.

The Ntonga School is striving to empower the people of Gugulethu by creating positive opportunities for their community, as well as foster a greater connection to the rest of the world through the sharing of their music. The school is working to connect South Africans beyond the boundaries of Gugulethu; it is a source of pride and inspiration not only for the township, but also for the country.

Click here to view photos of Ntonga Music School on Flickr

Udayapur Music Program

In the summer of 2007, William Aura traveled to the remote village of Tintale in Nepal's eastern valley. He was the first western man to see how the villagers there lived from day to day. At that time the place had no electricity, no telephones, and no modern sanitation. The people of Tintale had lived and worked in almost complete isolation from the outside world for centuries. PFCF was honored to be able to make a contribution to the community, and initiated a music program in nearby Katari Bazar, Udayapur, Nepal.

Local schoolteacher and music notation instructor Dhruba Kumar Ghimire patiently teaches disadvantaged village children how to play the harmonium. Our efforts provide classroom space and brand-new music instruments for the students as well as humanitarian aid in Tintale village including medicine, school supplies, and gifts for the children. A number of dedicated students trek two hours each way to Katari to receive music education. Local PFCF supporters Ishor Bajracharya, Shyam Basnet and Sujan Karki administer this vital music program.

Photos from the Udayapur Music Program

Mitrata Nepal Music Program

Mitrata means friendship in Nepali. It’s a word that epitomizes the meaning of love, care and support. Their mission is to serve and uplift the less privileged. It has always been Nanda Kulu's dream to establish a home for underprivileged children, and happily with the help of Dr. Schutz in the USA, this dream became a reality.

Started in 2000 by Nanda this very special orphanage now provides shelter, medical care and educational opportunities for over 100 children. This is accomplished by fundraising activities, linking children in Nepal with sponsors overseas, and operationally supporting a group home. Nanda and her fine crew are dedicated to supporting these children into adulthood, assisting them in becoming healthy, economically independent, educated Nepali citizens who have the opportunity to pursue happiness in life.

Most children residing at Mitrata were either abandoned or rescued from troubled homes. The plight of children in Nepal is desperate. Many are without food, on the streets and unable to attend school because they are too poor. Due to the devastating effects of the recent political conflict and civil war, there are more children without parents to care for them. Fifty percent of the children are malnourished and only a quarter of them live with adequate sanitation. There are 2.6 million child laborers in Nepal.

The Mitrata children are some of the most well behaved kids you will ever meet. On our first visit we were absolutely charmed by each and every one. Sarangi master Kiran Nepali, of the popular Nepali music group Kutumba, teaches a music program at Mitrata. The first thing that stood out was just how much the kids love to learn music. Rarely have we seen such desire to play an instrument. Kiran expressed how the need was great for new instruments for the aspiring students. So with the help of PFCF, flutes, harmoniums, drums and Sarangis have now been procured and happily received.

There are four dynamic music classes taught every Saturday morning. The children are very fortunate as the teaching staff is first rate. Kiran Nepali teaches Sarangi, Roop Chettri teaches harmonium and singing, Raman Maharjan teaches flute and brother Rameshowr Maharjan teaches the traditional Madal drum. It’s deeply inspiring to watch these dedicated musicians work with theses precious kids. We are grateful to have partnered with Nanda and her fine organization.

You can truly make a difference! Donate today, or find out more at mitrata.org

Hari Kul Music School

The Newar are considered to be the indigenous people of the Kathmandu valley. They are renowned for their rich musical tradition. This highly developed culture has a long history of social progress through art and music. Newar inhabitation of the Kathmandu valley is so ancient that it extends beyond recorded history into the realm of legend. People of all walks of life cherish their music.

As a child, Newari musician Hari Kul was taught to make madal drums by his famous drum-making father. Madals are a rhythm-keeping drum for folk songs in Nepal as well as northern India. They are made of wood and both heads are played, holding the madal drum horizontally. The drum averages two feet in length and six inches in diameter. The skin is similar to the skin of tablas. Black dots made of iron filings, flour and egg are burned on the skins in the center, giving the skin weight that causes the tone to reverberate like a low pitched bell.

Today Hari literally invents some of the most unique percussion instruments, wind instruments and string instruments you have ever heard. When children ask for music lessons and if they do not have money he will not turn them away. Hari is the living embodiment of music and its potential for healing.

For years Hari has taken on numerous disadvantaged children who have no means of support, and freely teaches them music. He and his wife, son and daughter operate a humble music shop in the picturesque Lalitpur district. He personally makes and provides most of the music instruments utilized in our Nepali music programs. What strikes us most about Hari is his insatiable desire to educate the disadvantaged. Three orphaned boys have had the good fortune of being invited to stay in his home and work in his shop for their keep. Hari passionately teaches them music notation in the morning before they leave for school each day.

This remarkable musical family will often sit on the rooftop taking in the Himalayan skyline while discussing music, healing and life. Local musicians casually stop by for tea and delightful conversation. Music is the motivator for all. The view is indeed breathtaking. Prayer flags rustle in the wind overlooking Durbar Patan Square. Children are laughing. Families gather for supper. There is a sense the day is done and it’s time for community and family. We are fortunate to have partnered with such a generous spirit.

Bizung School of Music and Dance

Our second school on the continent of Africa was recently built in Tamale, Ghana, hometown of the Playing For Change Band's percussionist, Mohammed Alidu. Alidu is a descendant of a long line of talking drum chiefs known as the "Bizung" that have lived in the area for more than 1,000 years. In his family's honor, the school has aptly been named the Bizung School of Music and Dance.

The school offers music and dance classes that are rooted in the traditional style of Northern Ghana. The school provides the children of Tamale a safe environment to learn in, as well as the opportunity to share their cultural and musical traditions with other children around the world.

Construction of the Bizung School was completed in February of 2010, and after hiring teachers, planning curriculums, and enrolling 150 students, classes began on May 17, 2010. Courses are currently offered in drumming, dance, xylophone, gonje, and vocals. For many students of the Bizung School of Music and Dance, taking classes here is their first time attending a school of any kind, as there are currently no other tuition-free schools in the northern region of Ghana.

Photos of the Opening Day of the Bizung School

Photos of the first month of classes at the Bizung School

Photos from the Bizung School in September 2011