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Title: Messengers of Truth
Location:
Global
Categories: Children’s Rights
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
Ongoing
Description:
YOUTH AND THE ROLE OF HIP-HOP
One of the least-empowered groups faced with the challenges of the Millennium Development Goals is urban youth. Of the estimated 1 billion slum dwellers worldwide, more than 50% are under the age of 25. Without access to adequate education or training, they have no prospects for meaningful employment. They have no say in policies and decisions that affect their livelihoods. They are victims of a vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion and are particularly vulnerable to crime, drug abuse, prostitution and HIV/AIDS.
In recent years, disenfranchised urban youth have, however, given birth to a powerful voice. This voice is Hip-Hop. Originating from the inner cities of North America, Hip-Hop is becoming the most popular form of expression of urban youth worldwide. A recent study undertaken by UN-HABITAT reveals that Hip-Hop is more than a genre of music or dance. It is a social movement. It is both a product of and a reaction to globalisation and represents a strong political statement. The most popular artists/groups are often those who rap about critical social, economic and environmental issues and who play an active role in their respective communities.
WORLD URBAN FORUM AND THE UNIVERSAL FORUM ON CULTURES
Based on these findings, UN-HABITAT decided to take advantage of the first Universal Forum on Cultures to be held in Barcelona 2004 to organise a Global Hip-Hop Summit and Concert. These events are designed to bring socially committed Hip-Hop artists from Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Americas to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals.
A special event will take place on Tuesday, 14 September at 18h15 within the World Urban Forum. Twelve Hip-Hop artists/groups, Carlinhos Brown from Brazil, Bebo Valdes from Cuba and F. Trueba, the Spanish film director, will be appointed UN-Habitat Messengers of Truth by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of the United Nations Programme for Human Settlements. Each of these artists and the film director have agreed to help the United Nations to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals and to devote their time, their art and their energy in support of youth development initiatives in slums and inner cities.
The Hip-Hop artists/groups that will be appointed as Messengers of Truth include La Haza and Geronaci
Background:
http://www.blpnet.org/hiphop/hiphop.html
Objectives:
THE MESSENGERS OF TRUTH PROJECT
The MESSENGERS OF TRUTH project aims to raise US$ 5 million in seed funding to enable socially committed Hip-Hop artists to educate and empower urban youth worldwide to improve their lives and communities. The funds will be leveraged with those of traditional donors, governments and international agencies.
The MESSENGERS OF TRUTH project is not about digging wells or building houses. Nor is it about providing anti-retro viral drugs. The funding level envisaged would hardly make a difference. However, this project will provide information to youth groups on how to contact and approach agencies and organisations that do provide such forms of assistance.
The MESSENGERS OF TRUTH project is about enabling girls and boys living in low-income neighbourhoods to voice their views and opinions on decisions affecting their lives and facilitating their access to skills training and job opportunities. Examples of how project resources could be used include matching grants to:
Expand education and training activities conducted by existing community centres, particularly in the construction industry;
Initiate pilot projects to improve housing, infrastructure and basic services such as water and sanitation;
Assist community organizations in acquiring computers and obtaining internet access that help bridge the digital divide;
Facilitate networking for the exchange of knowledge and experience;
Promote youth representation in local government actions, programs and decision making;
Document and disseminate success stories through participation of youth representatives in conferences and seminars and through the media.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The project intends to raise funds and awareness through the following activities:
Album: production and distribution of an album with up to 25 tracks donated from Hip Hop artists worldwide half of them from gold/platinum artists from Europe and North America and half from artists and groups from Africa, Asia and Latin America;
Gigs: One or more gigs to be organised in the U.K. to take place prior to the concert in Barcelona and to the release of the album;
Artists Tours: Promotion of the project by individual Hip-Hop artists at various concerts and gigs to raise awareness of the project and possibly to donate one-time fees;
Merchandising: A percentage of sales of T-shirts, posters, soft drinks etc. with designs donated by graffiti artists promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS and crime prevention;
Travel: Advertising on in-flight magazines and donation of free tickets for artists, youth groups to come to Barcelona;
Live web-cam and TV broadcast of the gigs and the concert in Barcelona.
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