Change Rocks Foundation - Empowering AIDS Orphans

Since 2006 the Change Rocks Foundation has been on a mission to change the lives of the world's most vulnerable children through the healing power of music. Founded by award-winning singer, speaker and activist, Yewande, this poignant video documents her mission to restore the voices of children that have been silenced by devastating poverty. From the Caribbean to Africa, her ongoing global empowerment initiatives are fostering education, social justice and AIDS prevention with an unorthodox approach - singing. So how did Yewande choose music as her weapon in the fight against global poverty?

Her earliest childhood memories were filled with stories about pioneers like Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson and Josephine Baker, who utilized their gifts to impact social change. During a time of great conflict in America, it was their poetry, songs and dance that helped to tear down walls of racism and oppression. Early on in her non-profit career, she developed artistic programs for at-risk youth who lived on the fringes of society in America. In a city where mothers seemed hopelessly lost to drugs and fathers were condemned to life in the prison system, her programs provided a safe outlet for children to express themselves through music and the arts. And later, as a professional singer and lecturer, she witnessed miraculous transformations teaching music to HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa and disadvantaged children in the Dominican Republic. They were happier, more confident and eager to face every challenge that was given.

In the midst of unimaginable poverty and suffering, an idea was born. Music had been clinically proven to enhance the intellectual and emotional development of children, and Yewande was beginning to believe that music could potentially save lives. In 2006, she launched empowerment initiatives coupled with an original social justice musical called Amazing Grace that featured the hidden talents of HIV/AIDS orphans in Malawi, Africa. Children who had been forced into trafficking and left to survive on their own when parents died of AIDS, tuberculosis, tribal conflict, were given the chance to confront socio-economic issues they had faced every day of their lives in song. Poverty had taken away their basic human rights, but with every passing day of our programs, these courageous children were beginning to see the potential to change their own destiny. With songs written by Yewande and music co-produced by Ghanaian pianist, Angela Crabbe, children around the world are proving that they're more than statistics, but stars waiting for the chance to shine!

www.yewande.com
www.changerocksfoundation.com
www.changerocksinstitute.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

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• Changing
• the
• world
• one
• song
• at
• time!