SFA Newsletter #4 - April 2009
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jewels....@gmail.com
Apr 1, 2009, 7:41:51 PM4/1/09
to Song For Africa
Song for Africa Newsletter – Issue #4,
April 2009
Spring is on our doorstep, the geese are coming home, and SFA is
gearing up for a jam-packed summer!
Recap of Recent Events:
SFA Charity Dinner in Montreal:
On March 14th, 2009, Julie Lafrance, SFA's Event/Fundraising
Coordinator, hosted a small charity dinner in her home to help raise
funds for the organization. For a donation of $25, guests were treated
to a gourmet dinner followed by a screening of the documentary and a
Q&A session. This type of event is something that anyone can organize,
on any budget – ranging from a $5 entry to a screening with pop-corn
in your apartment or basement, to an extravagant catered gala. If you
would like to organize a screening of your own, please contact us at
outr...@songforafrica.com. We will be more than happy to help you get
on your way.
SFA in Halifax:
The St. Francis Xavier University chapter of Development and Peace
hosted a viewing of the first Song for Africa documentary on March
6th, 2009 with the help of SFA CEO Darcy Ataman who flew in to present
the doc. The evening included the showing of the documentary, a Q&A
session with Mr Ataman followed with performances by Kim Wempe and The
Keats. The event was very well received and helped raise awareness to
the cause as well as funds for the organization.
Song for Africa Today:
Song for Africa Celebrity Art Auction:
It’s almost time, folks! The SFA online Celebrity Art Auction will be
launching on April 11th, 2009! Our Canadian musicians and celebrities
have been busy creating original visual works of art for you to bid on
to help the SFA Scholarship Fund. To get a sneak-peek at some of the
artwork, visit our facebook page, where we have been posting images as
we get them in. http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1103078184050&f=1&e=0#/event.php?eid=57750401676&ref=mf
Help us make a difference and purchase one of your favourite
rockstars’ original work of art. Even if you are not planning to bid,
please help us by passing on the information along to anyone you think
may want to participate.
The auction will be taking place in the SFA eBay store at
http://myworld.ebay.ca/songforafrica
Montreal R&B artist Hollow supporting SFA:
Up-and-coming Montreal artist Hollow recently released his new album
and has graciously offered to donate part of the proceeds to Song for
Africa. To check him out, visit his site at www.myspace.com/ghollow.
Song For Africa on tour with The Agonist:
Montreal-based band The Agonist has out done themselves yet again. Not
only are they continuing to support SFA by donating proceeds of their
t-shirt sales to us, but now they have taken SFA merchandise on tour
with them! They will be selling SFA t-shirts and CDs and collecting
donations for our cause. If you have the opportunity to attend one of
their shows over the next few weeks, make sure to drop by their Merch
table and help them support SFA. For show listings, visit
http://www.myspace.com/theagonist
Song for Africa Documentary on Bravo!:
The acclaimed Song for Africa Documentary is being re-broadcast by
Bravo! on May 12th, so check out the listings for your area. The
documentary follows Ian D'sa of Billy Talent, Simon Wilcox, Damhnait
Doyle, and Luke McMaster as they travel to Kenya to reach out to the
Kibera community and document the stories of the remarkable people and
the adversity that they face every day. Check it out, or contact
in...@songforafrica.com to find out how to get a DVD copy.
SFA Benefit Show:
We are thiiiiis close to bringing a great benefit show to the 'burbs
of Toronto, so watch out for the announcement soon, and we expect you
to be out in full force supporting the SFA artists. Details will be
on our homepage as they develop. Speaking of homepage.....
New SFA Homepage preparing to launch!!:
We couldn't hold in the excitement anymore, so we thought we'd share
it with you - there will be a new look and feel to the SFA Homepage
any day now, and we are very excited about the changes and hope that
you all feel the same way. Please let us know when you check it out
how you think it works compared to our current site. Feel free to
drop us a line any time at in...@songforafrica.com with your comments.
Upcoming Events for Song for Africa:
SFA at a Summer Festival near you:
As last year’s presence at Montreal’s OSHEAGA Music Festival last
summer was such a success, SFA is hoping to be present at as many
festivals as we can this year. We will be posting our whereabouts on
our website so you can come say hello!
A Second SFA Documentary! - Rwanda: Rising Up:
In the summer of 2009, a to-be-determined group of Canadian artists
(Alexisonfire, The Trews, Damhnait Doyle, The Tragically Hip) will be
traveling to Rwanda to document the hope, compassion and resiliency of
the human spirit, 15 years after the horrific genocide that claimed
the lives of over 800,000 people. Led by the professional production
team of Savant Productions and director Derek Horn, Song for Africa
will once again connect Canadian youth to African development issues
in innovative and engaging ways. The inclusion of Senator Romeo
Dallaire in the documentary adds unparalleled legitimacy and depth to
our advocacy efforts. Spread the news to your friends and be sure to
check us out online as we will have more updates on this coming soon!
Cross-Continental Album:
During the filming of the Rwandan documentary, there will be extensive
collaboration between the SFA artists and our local Rwandan peers. The
cultural sharing between the Canadian and Rwandan musicians will
continue outside the studio, as well. The locals will act as tour
guides, showing the Canadians the musical side of Rwanda, with trips
to live shows and musical instrument shops. These experiences will be
built on once the team returns home to Canada, where additional
recording and collaborations will take place. With such grassroots
involvement it’s difficult not to get excited at not only the creative
ideas being exchanged, but the way in which music and art can
transform lives and communities. Keep an eye out for the album on
Sony/BMG this winter!
Update on the SFA Scholarship Recipients:
By: Noma Sibanda - SFA Scholarship Fund Coordinator
This past month, Rebecca Nawade Ngaywa – our Nairobi Representative –
decided it was high time that Faith and Helen met their fellow
scholarship recipient, Millicent. The young gals did what other girls
their age do- they hung out and chatted about life over pizza and
soda!
Shy Helen is steadily moving into a space of trust when it comes to
openly and freely expressing how she is doing and how she feels about
school. She did disclose that, while she is very happy for Faith, she
misses her best friend immensely. Rebecca, Faith and Millicent lifted
her spirits with words of encouragement, motivation to continue to
work hard and stay focused on her academics and a reminder that she
only has one more year of primary school- at which point she can join
Faith at Shiners, provided her grades are in tip-top shape.
Faith is finally in an environment that enables her spirit to
flourish! The teen is happy, satisfied and feels very buoyant about
her future- there is a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. She
loves that her new school exposes her to diverse aspects of life. The
school’s environment is serene; the classrooms and dorms are spacious
and well equipped. With a full menu of extracurricular activities
including badminton, volleyball, tennis, football and net ball, Faith
is brainstorming a way to play them all! Faith did admit that the
first month of school was a bit daunting in terms of class pace and
the bulk of material covered in one session. A balanced blend of
optimist and realist, Faith knows that it’s only a matter of time
before her academic performance is back on track and the classroom
challenges become less intimidating.
Millicent has been working extremely hard at school to achieve her
dream of going to university to become a doctor. The first born child
and only member of her family to reach this level of schooling, her
determination to succeed is intertwined with the family’s hope- she is
the key to their future. It is typical in poor Kenyan communities,
especially in rural areas, that when a family cannot afford to send
all of their children to school, boys are given priority to receive
education, while the girl child remains at home. Millicent’s case is
different because of the SFA scholarship, which pays for her tuition.
Because her family cannot afford her brother’s secondary school fees,
she is teaching him tailoring so that he is able to support the family
and himself. Numerous studies have shown that when you choose to
educate a girl, you are educating a community. Millicent’s opportunity
accompanied by her ambition to accomplish something great and her
ability to give back to her family is just what Kenya needs in order
to rise up.
SFA’s lone male scholarship recipient, Jeremiah, was not present at
March’s meet and greet due to school commitments. Check back next
month to catch up with Jeremiah and to hear how he’s doing!
For more information about the SFA Scholarship Fund, please contact
Noma Sibanda at no...@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 contact
ju...@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
April 2009
Spring is on our doorstep, the geese are coming home, and SFA is
gearing up for a jam-packed summer!
Recap of Recent Events:
SFA Charity Dinner in Montreal:
On March 14th, 2009, Julie Lafrance, SFA's Event/Fundraising
Coordinator, hosted a small charity dinner in her home to help raise
funds for the organization. For a donation of $25, guests were treated
to a gourmet dinner followed by a screening of the documentary and a
Q&A session. This type of event is something that anyone can organize,
on any budget – ranging from a $5 entry to a screening with pop-corn
in your apartment or basement, to an extravagant catered gala. If you
would like to organize a screening of your own, please contact us at
outr...@songforafrica.com. We will be more than happy to help you get
on your way.
SFA in Halifax:
The St. Francis Xavier University chapter of Development and Peace
hosted a viewing of the first Song for Africa documentary on March
6th, 2009 with the help of SFA CEO Darcy Ataman who flew in to present
the doc. The evening included the showing of the documentary, a Q&A
session with Mr Ataman followed with performances by Kim Wempe and The
Keats. The event was very well received and helped raise awareness to
the cause as well as funds for the organization.
Song for Africa Today:
Song for Africa Celebrity Art Auction:
It’s almost time, folks! The SFA online Celebrity Art Auction will be
launching on April 11th, 2009! Our Canadian musicians and celebrities
have been busy creating original visual works of art for you to bid on
to help the SFA Scholarship Fund. To get a sneak-peek at some of the
artwork, visit our facebook page, where we have been posting images as
we get them in. http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1103078184050&f=1&e=0#/event.php?eid=57750401676&ref=mf
Help us make a difference and purchase one of your favourite
rockstars’ original work of art. Even if you are not planning to bid,
please help us by passing on the information along to anyone you think
may want to participate.
The auction will be taking place in the SFA eBay store at
http://myworld.ebay.ca/songforafrica
Montreal R&B artist Hollow supporting SFA:
Up-and-coming Montreal artist Hollow recently released his new album
and has graciously offered to donate part of the proceeds to Song for
Africa. To check him out, visit his site at www.myspace.com/ghollow.
Song For Africa on tour with The Agonist:
Montreal-based band The Agonist has out done themselves yet again. Not
only are they continuing to support SFA by donating proceeds of their
t-shirt sales to us, but now they have taken SFA merchandise on tour
with them! They will be selling SFA t-shirts and CDs and collecting
donations for our cause. If you have the opportunity to attend one of
their shows over the next few weeks, make sure to drop by their Merch
table and help them support SFA. For show listings, visit
http://www.myspace.com/theagonist
Song for Africa Documentary on Bravo!:
The acclaimed Song for Africa Documentary is being re-broadcast by
Bravo! on May 12th, so check out the listings for your area. The
documentary follows Ian D'sa of Billy Talent, Simon Wilcox, Damhnait
Doyle, and Luke McMaster as they travel to Kenya to reach out to the
Kibera community and document the stories of the remarkable people and
the adversity that they face every day. Check it out, or contact
in...@songforafrica.com to find out how to get a DVD copy.
SFA Benefit Show:
We are thiiiiis close to bringing a great benefit show to the 'burbs
of Toronto, so watch out for the announcement soon, and we expect you
to be out in full force supporting the SFA artists. Details will be
on our homepage as they develop. Speaking of homepage.....
New SFA Homepage preparing to launch!!:
We couldn't hold in the excitement anymore, so we thought we'd share
it with you - there will be a new look and feel to the SFA Homepage
any day now, and we are very excited about the changes and hope that
you all feel the same way. Please let us know when you check it out
how you think it works compared to our current site. Feel free to
drop us a line any time at in...@songforafrica.com with your comments.
Upcoming Events for Song for Africa:
SFA at a Summer Festival near you:
As last year’s presence at Montreal’s OSHEAGA Music Festival last
summer was such a success, SFA is hoping to be present at as many
festivals as we can this year. We will be posting our whereabouts on
our website so you can come say hello!
A Second SFA Documentary! - Rwanda: Rising Up:
In the summer of 2009, a to-be-determined group of Canadian artists
(Alexisonfire, The Trews, Damhnait Doyle, The Tragically Hip) will be
traveling to Rwanda to document the hope, compassion and resiliency of
the human spirit, 15 years after the horrific genocide that claimed
the lives of over 800,000 people. Led by the professional production
team of Savant Productions and director Derek Horn, Song for Africa
will once again connect Canadian youth to African development issues
in innovative and engaging ways. The inclusion of Senator Romeo
Dallaire in the documentary adds unparalleled legitimacy and depth to
our advocacy efforts. Spread the news to your friends and be sure to
check us out online as we will have more updates on this coming soon!
Cross-Continental Album:
During the filming of the Rwandan documentary, there will be extensive
collaboration between the SFA artists and our local Rwandan peers. The
cultural sharing between the Canadian and Rwandan musicians will
continue outside the studio, as well. The locals will act as tour
guides, showing the Canadians the musical side of Rwanda, with trips
to live shows and musical instrument shops. These experiences will be
built on once the team returns home to Canada, where additional
recording and collaborations will take place. With such grassroots
involvement it’s difficult not to get excited at not only the creative
ideas being exchanged, but the way in which music and art can
transform lives and communities. Keep an eye out for the album on
Sony/BMG this winter!
Update on the SFA Scholarship Recipients:
By: Noma Sibanda - SFA Scholarship Fund Coordinator
This past month, Rebecca Nawade Ngaywa – our Nairobi Representative –
decided it was high time that Faith and Helen met their fellow
scholarship recipient, Millicent. The young gals did what other girls
their age do- they hung out and chatted about life over pizza and
soda!
Shy Helen is steadily moving into a space of trust when it comes to
openly and freely expressing how she is doing and how she feels about
school. She did disclose that, while she is very happy for Faith, she
misses her best friend immensely. Rebecca, Faith and Millicent lifted
her spirits with words of encouragement, motivation to continue to
work hard and stay focused on her academics and a reminder that she
only has one more year of primary school- at which point she can join
Faith at Shiners, provided her grades are in tip-top shape.
Faith is finally in an environment that enables her spirit to
flourish! The teen is happy, satisfied and feels very buoyant about
her future- there is a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. She
loves that her new school exposes her to diverse aspects of life. The
school’s environment is serene; the classrooms and dorms are spacious
and well equipped. With a full menu of extracurricular activities
including badminton, volleyball, tennis, football and net ball, Faith
is brainstorming a way to play them all! Faith did admit that the
first month of school was a bit daunting in terms of class pace and
the bulk of material covered in one session. A balanced blend of
optimist and realist, Faith knows that it’s only a matter of time
before her academic performance is back on track and the classroom
challenges become less intimidating.
Millicent has been working extremely hard at school to achieve her
dream of going to university to become a doctor. The first born child
and only member of her family to reach this level of schooling, her
determination to succeed is intertwined with the family’s hope- she is
the key to their future. It is typical in poor Kenyan communities,
especially in rural areas, that when a family cannot afford to send
all of their children to school, boys are given priority to receive
education, while the girl child remains at home. Millicent’s case is
different because of the SFA scholarship, which pays for her tuition.
Because her family cannot afford her brother’s secondary school fees,
she is teaching him tailoring so that he is able to support the family
and himself. Numerous studies have shown that when you choose to
educate a girl, you are educating a community. Millicent’s opportunity
accompanied by her ambition to accomplish something great and her
ability to give back to her family is just what Kenya needs in order
to rise up.
SFA’s lone male scholarship recipient, Jeremiah, was not present at
March’s meet and greet due to school commitments. Check back next
month to catch up with Jeremiah and to hear how he’s doing!
For more information about the SFA Scholarship Fund, please contact
Noma Sibanda at no...@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 contact
ju...@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
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