Youth Empowerment through music program

http://www.music-crossroads.net/?q=en/content/youth-empowerment/hivaids-awareness

Youth Empowerment Projects

In a social context, music defines you - whether as an amateur or professional, international artist or a local teacher, music is a powerful identifier of who you are and where you belong - music can bring purpose to your life. Music Crossroads believes that youth have an important role in directly shaping the norms, values, beliefs and principles of tomorrow.

Festivals are the driving force behind our Youth Empowerment through music program, and have lead to the creation of diverse activities. With the development of workshops promoting an open discussion of sexuality and gender equality, MCI is not only helping young people to realize their dreams on a musical level, but is generating community dialogue towards a common vision of socio-economic development in an HIV/AIDS-free society.

We have come to realize the importance of developing relevant and effective national music education structures. In the five Southern African countries where MC is present - with a total population of some 100 million people - the local music industry is struggling. There are few record companies, distributors and professional artist managers; high levels of piracy and an immense "brain drain" with artists leaving countries to pursue markets and audiences elsewhere.