Friday, April 1, 2011

Our good friend Lindsay Carlin recently received a grant from Omprakash that will allow her to continue her work with the Amy Biehl Foundation. Currently, her roles with the Foundation include both Marketing Intern and after-school teacher. Lindsay will be writing a series of stories for the Omprakash website and kindly shared her first entry with us.

Every year, South Africa hosts an international jazz festival in Cape Town. On the foothills of Table Mountain, music lovers come from all over to hear the wafting tunes of saxophones, bass guitars and soulful songs fill the southern suburbs as they sip their wine and enjoy their picnic baskets. Unfortunately, for many South Africans the festival is only a dream as the majority of the population is confined to the informal settlements and townships surrounding the city. The cruel reality of a first world/third world conundrum is evident on weekends such as this. Unable to afford the ticket prices, transport, or even a full meal for their family the South African citizens of the townships are left to only imagine what it the jazz festival would be like. Until now…

The Amy Biehl Foundation has a strong passion for music and using music as a means to connect with children, to help them express their feelings and develop their skills. This year, we wanted to bring the internationally acclaimed festival to the people through a fun and entertaining day of song and dance.

After much preparation, securing donations, a venue and catering, the festival was underway. Guests streamed in to this FREE event as our very own Amy Biehl Foundation marimba band played away. Their talent, energy and obvious joy of playing these instruments were absorbed into the crowd as they took their seats. True to African time, the performances started over an hour after the initial start time, but no one seemed to mind at all.

The Milton Jazz Academy came all the way from Boston to provide an outstanding guest performance. Local well-known jazz artists such as Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Yolanda Yawa graced the stage with their soulful afro-jazz sound. Amy Biehl Foundation facilitators were given the opportunity to show off their incredible talent by way of an ensemble performance that wowed the crowd.

Even though the event was free, we decided to have a donations box at the entrance to the festival. Not expecting many donations, I played with local kids while keeping an eye on the box next to me. These kids were covered in dirt and smelled as if they hadn’t bathed in a while, but they had so much contagious joy and energy! Making games out of an old soda can and 2 straws, we were entertained for hours as the musicians played away. As soon as the children saw a few people put money in the donation box, they ran away. Confused and little disheartened now that my playmates had left, I sat down at my seat, holding the box.

As I sat, I tried to understand why these children had left so suddenly. Did they see the time and realize they needed to be somewhere? Did one child direct the others away? Was it something I said? Did a mother call from outside the festival, unknown to my ears? Still confused, I wondered if I would even see these kids again. They were so small and needed so much attention and love.

Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, the group of laughing 7 year olds rounded the corner with smiles big enough to melt any heart of stone. I watched as each one of them dropped a coin into the donations box. I explained to them what the donation box meant and where the money was going and they all agreed that they wanted to still give. These kids have next to nothing, yet they proudly gave the little they had to support. They were proud to do their part and help the community.

After playing a bit more, the kids left to go home for the day, but I was left with the lasting impression of their gift. It doesn’t matter how much one has, what matters is that you give what you can—and do so with pride and confidence. Kind of puts perspective on the time and money we give towards things, doesn’t it??

For more stories or to contact Lindsay, click here.