Song for Africa Newsletter – Issue #5, March 2010
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Long time no see! Song for Africa has had quite the busy and exciting
year and we can’t wait to tell you all about it!
2009 Recap:
SFA Documentary #2 Filming in Rwanda
Production on the second SFA Documentary entitled Rwanda: Rises Up
successfully wrapped shooting in Rwanda last November. Director Derek
Horn once again took the helm and music producer David Bottrill (Tool,
Muse, Silverchair…) handled the recording aspect for the accompanying
album, with artists Damhnait Doyle, Steve Bay from Hot Hot Heat, Sarah
Slean and Tim Edwards from Crash Parallel along for the journey. Watch
for the documentary to be aired on City TV on Saturday, June 12th at
8pm. The accompanying album will be released on Sony Music on June
15th!
Benefit Show with Choclair and Famous
Juno winner CHOCLAIR and Juno nominee FAMOUS teamed up with Song for
Africa and Johnny B's to bring Durham a great night of hip hop hosted
by DEVO BROWN of Toronto’s FLOW 93.5, with all proceeds going towards
the Song for Africa Scholarship Fund. These artists were supported by
the inimitable BLUES UNDERDOG, as well as OLI, PETER JACKSON, GENERAL,
PRESS PLAY LIFESTYLES, and RESPECT OVER MONEY RECORDS. Over 250 people
were present which helped SFA raise 2700$!
SFA would like to organize more of these types of events with your
help. If you are in a band or know people who are - and would like to
organize your own version on this fundraiser, please get in contact
with us at in...@songforafrica.com and we will do all we can to help
make it a success!
Upcoming Events for Song for Africa:
Song for Africa on Tour with Billy Talent
The boys from Billy Talent have graciously offered to take Song for
Africa’s first documentary on their Canadian tour! The tour kicked off
February 24th in Vancouver B.C., and Alexisonfire joined the band for
the cross-country adventure on March 3rd in Victoria. (Check out our
interview with Alexisonfire’s George Pettit at last year’s Edgefest –
here!) These boys know how to put on a show so make sure to get your
tickets fast and don’t forget to stop by the merch tables and buy
yourself a copy of the SFA DVD!
For tour dates, check out: http://www.billytalent.com/Tour/
Song for Africa at a Festival Near You – Summer 2010!
Song for Africa will be at even more festivals this coming summer and
we’re looking for volunteers! If the idea of soaking up the sun while
enjoying some great live music and helping out a good cause sounds
good to you, we’d love to have you join us at our info booths. If
interested, contact us at outr...@songforafrica.com.
Ongoing Projects:
SFA’s Music Enrichment Workshop
Song for Africa has come together with US-based Partners in Health
(PIH) and FACEAIDS to create a Music Enrichment Workshop for students
and alumni of PIH’s School Fees Program. While FACEAIDS teaches them
about HIV and helps them to articulate their responses, SFA provides
musical enrichment and recording seminars to encourage personal
expression. The workshops focus on using music and music-related
technology for spreading positive anti-HIV and health education
messages. The students’ recordings are then sent back to their
communities to help increase awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention, through
song.
While SFA was in Rwanda in November 2009, approximately 35 students
were bussed to the Kirehe District in the Eastern Province from all
over the country to take part in the first seminar. We look forward to
seeing this program develop further in the coming year. ‘Daniel’, a
local Rwandan celebrity, and local music producers have come on board
to help run future sessions.
SFA Scholarship Fund
Song for Africa is currently supporting seven students in Kibera,
Kenya.
Here are some updates:
Seventeen year old Millicent recently graduated from Kibera Glory
Secondary School and plans to attend medical school! In preparation,
she will be taking some computer classes to brush up on her IT skills.
Thirteen year old Faith, SFA’s pioneer beneficiary, has settled in to
her new school – the Shiners Girls High School. She loves her new
environment which includes lots of extra curricular activities such as
badminton, volleyball, tennis, football and netball. Faith is a happy
girl who is enjoying the exposure to different aspects of life.
Hellen is an eleven year old orphan whose only living relatives are
her grandparents. She has spent most of her life at the Baraka Za
Ibrahim Children Center. With her calm and smiling disposition, Hellen
dreams of becoming a musician.
Sixteen year old Edward has just started at a new school as a form 1
student. He loves reading books and English is one of his favourite
subjects. Edward has ambitions of becoming a journalist.
For more information about the SFA Scholarship Fund, email us at
in...@songforafrica.com
How you can help to make a difference:
We are always looking for volunteers to help out at our events and
fundraisers. If you would like to join our street team, please email
us at outr...@songforafrica.com.
To donate to Song for Africa or to purchase SFA merchandise, please
visit our website: www.songforafrica.com. All proceeds of t-shirt
sales go towards the SFA Scholarship Fund.
For up to date information about SFA, join our Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Song-For-Africa/19414061788
or our MySpace page at:
http://www.myspace.com/songforafrica
Song for Africa: Creating Music, Changing Lives