Feature: Make A Change Event

Planet Urban recently spoke to the crew behind The Rhythm Project. Find out about their most recent project - the Make a Change benefit.

Would you like to elaborate on who The Rhythm Project are?

The Rhythm project is an organisation created to inspire and educate youth in regards to their approach and response to world poverty. That they may understand how ‘the challenge’ of decreasing world poverty can become a rhythm that is embedded in their everyday lives. Furthermore, that these youth will in turn inspire those in their network, to be a rhythm that resonates throughout our community.

Currently we have over 80 youth involved across our organisation in various urban/gospel choirs, rap/freestyle classes, Hip Hop dance groups and more! Since its establishment in 2002, RP has been raising awareness and financial support for various World Vision projects via its groups and events. The idea is to inspire our members to use their gifts to spread a message of hope through our music… that other youth will understand that by playing their part we can all fight world poverty together.

How did you come to work on a charity event such as Make A Change?

This event is all about inspiring and raising awareness to those who attend, that we can “Make a Change” to the poverty climate in our world. It really is a celebration of urban/Hip Hop/RnB music here in Australia… and the chance for music lovers to come and enjoy great music whilst helping those less fortunate.

We wanted to reach those in our generation and community who would not normally be reached through current charity mediums. We hope that by attracting those who love urban music, we can educate them on how they too make a difference.

What inspired you to work on this project?

Music has always been a big part of my life, growing up playing in various bands and loving urban/gospel music… I think it was inevitable that we would start some kind of music group. Also, my family having originated from Sri Lanka a third world country poverty stricken by war, I have grown up to understand the struggle and desperation of those in the world who do not have a voice.

Our desire to make a difference and love for music was combined to form, what we know now as The Rhythm Project. In 2002 RP began with a small urban youth choir who toured various shopping centres raising money for World Vision. Now producing original music and performing with a line up of well known RnB/Hip Hop artists from around Australia. Its exciting to see where the next few years will take us!

What's the desired outcome for this event?

Obviously our main objective is to raise as financial support for the World Vision Alounmai Food Security Project in Laos. But also to inspire those who attend that they too can take action and fight against world poverty, whether it be through child sponsorship, financial support or getting involved with one of the RP groups.

Who do you have involved in this project and how essential has their input been to ensure the event's success?

The talented artists who are obviously the ones making this event the largest URBAN collaboration. But a massive event like this is only made possible through the generous support of our major sponsors CitiPower, Silktel and ANZ plus the many more sponsors who have partnered with us to this event come to a reality.

Not to mention the support of the team here at Planet Urban, who have caught our vision and helped to promote this event…..We really couldn’t have done it without them!

You've got an extensive line up of artists and DJs for this event. How was your selection process and how do you see these artists complimenting this event?

Our desire was to provide exposure to local urban artists from around Australia, so as much as there are some well known artists such as Joel Turner, Israel, Jade MacRae, Emily Williams and DJ A-Style we also have some great talented artists who are known around the local Melbourne music scene such as Gary Pinto, Andrew de Silva DJ A-style, DJ Damion De Silva, Wickid Force, Anne Robertson, Random, Israel, KSTAR, Tantrumm, Angela Librandi and MORE.

We wanted artists who would be passionate about the cause and the whole reason why we are hosting this event. So this was a key factor in our discussions and selection of these artists. All the artist you will see at this event are all so supportive of what we are trying to achieve and will all be performing music to inspire others to make a change!

All proceeds are are going to the World Vision Alounmai Food Security Project in Laos. How’s the situation in Laos at the moment?

Since 2005 the Alounmai Food Security Project has been successfully addressing the food shortage in Phoukhoun District

The area’s mountainous landscape, ethnic diversity and access problems are some of the factors that influence the pace of development. With a large number of people live in remote areas that are not easily accessible, so services such as agricultural support are scarce.

Luang Prabang province has a population of more than 447,000 and 51% of those living there are classified as poor. Phoukhoune district is one of the districts of Luang Prabang province. A lack of food in the district has lead to malnutrition related illnesses. With the rates of malnutrition in children have particularly have fallen significantly.

Would you like to explain what the Food Security Project is and how it will help in relieving the situation there?

In line with the government’s policy, World Vision’s strategy is to alleviate poverty in the remote regions of selected provinces and to bring about economic self-sufficiency, physical and social well being. The project will work to achieve the following outcomes:

· Ensuring the availability of locally produced food and clean water.

· Ensuring access to food by enabling households to increase their income and buy good quality food, in sufficient quantities, when necessary.

· Increasing the community’s knowledge of how to store, prepare and consume food in a way that is healthy and nutritionally balanced.

· Enabling the community to create assets, so that there are other resources in times of emergency.

Most people are oblivious to what happens in other regions of the world. How essetial is it for people in society to inform themselves about less fortunate people in 3rd world countries?

We are so blessed to live in a country like this, to have clean water, endless amounts of food, a roof over our heads and education freely available to us. The poverty situation of this world seems so large that we don’t try to change it, simply coz it seems too hard! But what society needs to understand is that EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS. To help one life, or one community is helping someone who before had no hope!

Poverty can be eliminated, but we all have to play our part!

Do you have any upcoming future events like this?

The make a change concert is our annual large event for the year, but also hold various fundraising events and performances throughout the year which we would love people to come down and support… for more info check out our website!