Zelfo Australia, the manufacturer's of all hemp didges, ensures that a percentag of ALL proceeds from hemp didges made go to Music Outback.
By understanding that the didgeridoo is an authentic tribal instrument, Zelfo Australia as manufacturer's of all Hemp Didge's ensures that Aboriginal Culture is not only respected by supported.
By teaming up with Music Outback Hemp Didge's assist in programs that have been designed to:
* Develop the use of music in remote isolated schools as a means of improving general education outcomes
* Assist in the preservation of threatened languages and culture through the engagement of older community members in first language song writing
* Engage school age Indigenous youth who don't attend school in creative activities that promote healthy lifestyle choices
* Strengthen the roles of community adults in the mentoring and leading of young people in education and cultural expression
* Involve various agencies on Indigenous communitites in activities that build partnerships and cross-agency cooperation across the community
These are on the ground projects - i.e. with people working directly with the people who need it, unlike many other 'charitable organisations'.
Music Outback Foundation had its origins in late 2001 when founder Steve Berry had the opportunity to conduct a week long music workshop at M'bunghara, a small Indigenous community in remote Central Australia.
His time there left him inspired to return to the Northern Territory and pursue the possibility of providing regular music education opportunities to remote Indigenous schools. In September 2002 he visited four more schools conducting workshops at each location, and the success of these visits resulted in an invitation to expand his program to a large number of remote schools in Central Australia.
In order to meet this demand he began to introduce other musicians to the program. He hand picked these new teachers from contacts made over many years in the music industry, and trained them as they were introduced to what would become their regular community postings. All of these new teachers remain committed and active in the field, and many of them are now capable teacher trainers themselves.
Within four years the program had visited 30 remote communities, covering 6 language groups and an area over 350,000 square kilometres. Many of the schools on these communities incorporated the program into their regular curriculum every term. Up to 20 musicians have been involved in its delivery, including internationally recognised musicians Mal Webb and Greg Sheehan, and the leaders from the up and coming band Blue King Brown – Nat Pa'a Pa'a and Carlo Santone.
The Music Outback Foundation was publicly launched at the '06-07 Woodford Folk Festival, and continues to seek philanthropic and corporate sponsorship, government funding, and public donations. Zelfo Australia and Hemp Didge's are proud to be associated with Music Outback.
Links:
http://www.musicoutback.com
