Total Project Goal is $14,500

Music Is My Weapon

The concept behind Hasan Salaams EP "Music Is My Weapon" is the belief that music can be used as a powerful tool in the pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality. With the release of the project, Hasan is aiming to prove that music can change peoples lives, literally. All profits from the sale of the EP will be used to fund a school, clean water well, and medical clinic in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. In November 2010, Hasan became the first U.S hip hop artist to ever perform in Bissau. On the same trip he worked with the young artists, taught creative writing to the youth, and headlined a concert to promote freedom of speech. The "Music Is My Weapon" project is the next step, in an effort to provide change to a country that remains one of the poorest and least politically stable in the world.

 

The EP:

Artist: Hasan Salaam

Title: Music Is My Weapon

Date: 12/6/2011

Label: FLOW / Hasan Salaam Music

Price: $14.99 CD / $9.99 Digital

**100% of profits go to "It Takes a Village" Project**

 

It Takes A Village

 

Project Summary:

 

Clean drinking water, a proper education, and adequate healthcare are basic human needs that many countries continue to struggle with. Guinea-Bissau is a small, and often forgotten, West African nation that exemplifies this dire situation. Only 56% of its population has access to clean drinking water. The youth remain part of a cycle that leaves 47% of them without the opportunity to attend primary school. The 1.5 million citizens share access to the countrys approximately 45 doctors, leaving them with an average life expectancy of 48 years.

The remote village of Djati suffers even greater extremes due to its 160 mile distance from the capital city of Bissau. Djati has no source of water, school for its children, or medical facility. Young women and children walk 2-3 miles per day getting water, which is often contaminated, to bring back to the village. The youth utilize a makeshift school made of sticks and hay that they must rebuild every year after its destroyed by the rainy season. Djati has no medical clinic, so the sick must be transported 35 miles away to the village of Quebo before they can be treated.

Djati is the land that time forgot. This project can change that.

 

Project Objectives:

 

Build a Well:

A hand dug well by Wateraid includes a reservoir tank and a small generator to pump the water to the tank -- or the water may be drawn by hand. The well will be hand dug by 20 men from Djati. This will provide the village with a local and reliable water source.

Build a School:

A permanent 4-room school will be built which can hold up to 200 students. The school will have two classrooms along with two small bedrooms, (which will house the two assigned teachers). Funding for the school will include school supplies and desks. The new school will provide education for children in Djati, as well as children from nearby villages.

Build a Medical Clinic:

A two room medical structure will be built for the use of trained villagers and/or visiting nurses and doctors. The facility would also benefit many individuals from the nearby villages who can also be treated at the clinic.

All buildings and structures will be designed according to indigenous architecture and constructed with input from the community, creating a sustainable and comfortable space for both children and adults.

 

Project Budget:

(itemized breakdown available upon request)

Wateraid Well=       $3,500

School=                     $3,000

Desks (70)=              $3,000

Medical Clinic=       $3,000

School Supplies=     $2,000

Total=                        $14,500

Timeline:

Wateraid well construction to begin April 2012

The remaining TBD

Project Participants:

United States

Devon Austin Blogger and Founder/Project Manager, It Takes a Village, San Francisco, CA

 

Devon is a Client Advisor with Marsh & McLennan, a Global Insurance Brokerage firm, and a former Stockbroker. Her past accomplishments with It Takes a Village include leading a successful project to send 125 handmade dresses to the girls of Casa Emanuel Orphanage in Guinea Bissau.

FLOW For the Love Of Words Music & Media company; Raj Raju, President, North Brunswick, NJ

FLOW is a hip hop music, media, and management company, founded in 2004, focused on musicians striving to make a difference in society. The core belief is that music should touch people, and be a voice for those that dont have one. FLOW is the management and label partner for Hasan Salaam. Together they traveled to Guinea-Bissau in November 2010 to work with the youth, and hold a freedom of speech concert.

Hasan Salaam Hip Hop Artist, Speaker, Humanitarian, North Bergen, NJ

Hasan Salaam is an award winning hip hop artist, humanitarian, and public speaker. Hes toured with some of hip hops greatest legends, and been recognized both in the US and internationally. Hes been featured in major media publications, websites, and TV stations as an emerging force in hip hop culture. Hasans work with charities, non-profits, and youth all over the world is a testament of his passion to touch lives. He is the first U.S hip hop artist to ever perform in Guinea-Bissau.

Life Link 501(c)(3) Charity; Connie Alessi, President, Claremore, Oklahoma

Life Link is a non-profit, international human services corporation committed to improving the quality of life for children everywhere. Life Link operates orphanages around the world. They currently support five orphanages in West Africa.

It Takes a Village - Project Volunteers

 

A group of DNA traced descendants of Guinea-Bissau working together to give a voice to the voiceless. Their goal is to raise funds to improve their standard of living and quality of life and to bring awareness to the conditions existing in Guinea-Bissau. The group fosters mutual understanding by encouraging cultural exchange through the arts.

Guinea-Bissau

 

Maritza Alvarez Romero Project Advisor, It Takes a Village, Bissau, Guinea Bissau

Maritza is Principal of Liceu Communitario Emanuel High School at the Casa Emanuel orphanage.

 

Freddy Schafer - Executive Director, Project Self-Help, Quebo, Guinea Bissau

Freddy has been doing humanitarian work with the villages of Djati and Quebo for 9 years.

 

Raquel Schafer Nurse, Quebo, Guinea Bissau

Raquel works with her husband Freddy and their youngest son Luke with projects in Quebo and Djati.

 

 

Contact:

 

Raj Raju

FLOW For the Love Of Words

Hasan Salaam Music

Raj@SimplyFLOW.com 

732-679-7711

Devon Austin

It Takes A Village

devon4africa@gmail.com

925-286-2898