fbf usa folio
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Information about the FBF targeted to US audiencesTRANSCRIPT
THE FIELD BAND FOUNDATION
OF SOUTH AFRICA
Sharing Music, Changing Lives
Each and every day, the Field Band Foundation (FBF) provides life-changing opportunities for the youth of South Africa through music. Members participate in music lessons, ensemble workshops, performance practice, and, ultimately, field band performances, festivals, and competitions. Being a member of the FBF is great fun!
Yet, while music is the common purpose that brings youth into the program and keeps them coming back, the FBF is so much more than just music and dance. Through the FBF, youth from the poorest and most challenged households in South Africa find a safe environment in which to explore their personal potential as young people living in a turbulent so-ciety and to help them rise out of poverty. Members attend workshops through which they build self-es-teem by participating in activities that focus on com-mitment, trust, cooperation, and self-discipline. They develop strong peer relationships built on trust, respect, cultural diversity, and gender equality.
Not Just Music – Changing Lives Through Social Development
South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world. The FBF provides a comprehen-sive HIV and AIDS education program that offers accurate and complete information to help members guide their behavior to protect themselves. Members are provided with voluntary counseling and testing services. If a member tests HIV positive, he or she is enrolled in our care program to receive counseling and HIV treatment at no cost.
Social development officers within the FBF provide members with access to social services, counseling, and support organizations to help them cope with homelessness, domestic abuse, child-headed households, acute health issues, and other personal and social needs.
“The growth in me has been fantastic, and I’m proud of who I am now.”
“The FBF gave me role models, it gave me discipline, it gave me a future.”
“We in the FBF are different from other kids because we are practicing at home—we don’t have time to go out and do drugs.”
Membership
n The FBF targets areas where unemployment is high and access to youth development activities are limited.
n Sixty-one percent of our members’ parents are unemployed.
n The average age of an FBF member is 14.5 years old.
n Ninety-two percent of all members did not have access to music or arts education before they joined the FBF.
n For 2010 we will have 19 Field bands with 4,500 members from 114 townships in 292 schools.
Recent Highlights and Successes
n Field bands performed more than 156 times across South Africa in 2009.
n Four FBF members spent a year in Norway and five more are studying at Toneheim
Folkehøyskule, teaching African music to school bands all over Norway.
n “Hot and Funky,” a new project with the Norges Musikkorps Forbund in Norway, was launched. FBF members taught young Norwegian musicians how to dance and be in an African-style field band.
n Four FBF members spent three months with the Pioneer Drum Corps in the United States and participated in the Drum Corps International World Championships.
n A dance member of the FBF has been perform-ing in “The Lion King” stage production in Hamburg, Germany, for an extended run.
n Thirty-nine HIV life skills workshops and 4 leadership workshops were completed in 2009.
n Fourteen FBF members received study grants for college in 2009.
“The FBF gave me role models, it gave me discipline, it gave me a future.”
“If we build strong roots in our country we will reap greater rewards.”
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
Operating Offices of the Field Band Foundation in South Africa: Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo Province
ASSETS
Twenty sets of instruments and 21 vehicles
LEGAL INFORMATION
Section 21 Company and Section 18 A registration in South Africa.
The Field Band Foundation Inc. is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 non-profit whose sole purpose is to raise funding and awareness for the FBF in South Africa. All funds raised through the Foundation are directed to programs of the FBF in South Africa.
CONTACT DETAILS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Chief Executive Officer: Retha Cilliers +27 31 564 2913 and +27 83 775 4348 email: [email protected] Field Band Foundation National Office +011 234 9040 Fax: 011 234 3195 email: [email protected]
CONTACT DETAILS IN THE UNITED STATES
Scott Morgan [email protected] phone 973.865.0128
www.fieldband.org.za
n Donate instruments—we need gently used or new band instruments.
n Donate in support of our vital social and arts development programmes.
n Support the training and development of one FBF youth leader.
n Hold a benefit concert or event at your college or high school.
n Sponsor an FBF member to spend the summer in the U.S. traveling with an American show band.
n Sponsor an entire band project for one year.
What You Can Do to be Part of the Field Band Foundation
“The FBF approaches life in a very different way—like coming out of the streets, it teaches you what you can be for the future.”
To hear music, see videos, and read FBF updates, visit us online at www.fieldband.org.za