When Nokia Philippines, sent us an invite for Nokia ACTS (Artists Coming Together to Serve), I just had to come despite its Sunday afternoon schedule. Nokia ACTS is a collaboration between Nokia Philippines and the talented minds behind Rock Ed Philippines. It has built on the latter’s Project VIA (Volunteers Initiative for the Arts) whose primary goal is to teach underprivileged children how to either play musical instruments or train for voice via music camps. (Please click on the image on the left for a larger view)

“Through this program, we hope to make an impact in the lives of the children by giving them a chance to excel in something and a chance at a future profession,” says William Hamilton-Whyte, General Manager, Nokia Philippines.  “We are glad to have partnered with Rock Ed Philippines who are very passionate in their belief that we should ‘educate to end poverty’.” For their part, Rock Ed’s Founder and Executive Director Gang Badoy offers that “the cooperation of Nokia ACTS has allowed us to sustain Rock Ed’s Project VIA and make the music camps more regular.  I think that consistency makes all the difference in the lives of the scholars.”

We were told that scholars had to undergo a selection process to ascertain who among them was cut to do what musically. The instructors later on found that certain kids would shine on doing several musical instruments so they had to manage and give the multi-talented children exposure to different classes as well.

Gang Badoy, in between sets during this first ever concert of the scholars, shared that it would be helpful if each scholar could have a musical instrument to practice with at home. Unfortunately, the children can only play with the guitars, drums, and keyboards during formal sessions with the instructors during Sundays. Gang adds that donations would go a long way to help make this vision a reality.

Photos taken using Juned‘s cam :D

More than just a music and arts camp, Nokia ACTS also has an expansion plan in the offing.   The project aims to care for the scholars by providing them also with medical and dental support, mentorship, a community and ultimately something productive to do with their time. Through Nokia ACTS, Nokia hopes to arm 120 kids with music skills, offering them a chance to upgrade their lives through donation drives for 3 years. Beneficiaries can either perform as bands, solo artists, vocalists and instrumentalists.  The street children participating in the Nokia ACTS program come from foundations such as ChildHope Asia and Virlanie Foundation.

Musicians are usually booked during Saturday nights. Instructors Francis de Veyra, Jay Gapasin, Junji Lerma, and Noel Cabangon are not exempt from the general rule yet they come tirelessly during Sundays for this worthy cause. Francis, Jay, and Junji form part of the infamous Radioactive Sago Project band. How about you? How do you “give back?” (Quoted excerpts from the event’s press release) NEXT POST: An individual’s commitment to teaching children