AFL Kickstart Your Dreams

We were so proud of the boys who stepped up and showed so much confidence and self believe writing and recording this AFLNT song. Thank-you so much to beyondblue: the national depression initiative and Brad from AFL NT for the opportunity you provided for IHHP to connect and work with all the boys looking forward to the next camp.

IHHP was really thrilled to employ legendary Indigenous Musician and Deadly Winner Djolpa Mckenzie from Wild Water band work with the boys writing and recording the Chorus of the song and laying down the guitar tracks. Special thanks to DJ Jasper and Physic for making such a awesome beat.

Barunga Festival

Click here for more info on CAAMA

Or view the ABC News story here.

Wakakirri Outback Festivals

Youth beyondblue, IHHP and Wakakirri have joined forces for the 2010 Wakakirri Outback Festivals. Schools will get to participate in filmmaking and hip hop dancing in the following communities:

NSW FESTIVAL: Wilcannia, Broken Hill, Menindee 31st May - 4th June

SA FESTIVAL: Ceduna, Yalata, Penong, Miltaburra and Koonibba 21st - 25th June

NT FESTIVAL: Barunga, Katherine, Jilkminggan & Wugularr 9th - 13th August

For more information please visit the following link.

The Long Walk

The Long walk was a huge success we facilitated two 45 min performance workshops in our own marquee at Federation Square (Right on the corner of Flinders and St Kilda Rd) Working with over 600 people.

We also performed in front over 4000 on the main stage as the support act for Unckle Archie Roach. Special day and great to be apart of it. Kim Kruger from Long Walk Essendon Football Club, to start discussions around next years event in the coming months, I will keep you guys in the loop.

Dallas Woods - Youth Trainee IHHP Artist

Every Community that we are facilitating our weeklong projects we are identifying and listing potential leaders that could have the confidence and the desire to be trained as hiphop leaders. They will get the opportunity to work along side us and tour with us, attend leadership Camps and be mentored into sustaining the IHHP full time within there community. Whilst in Wyndham as a part of the East Kimberly tour we identified a young Indigenous 15 year old male called Dallas Woods who was at the cross roads of his young life. He had dropped out of school and after meeting wit his mother was looking for an opportunity to step up and escape the pressures of temptation and self-destructive environment that he was in.

IHHP saw much talent and passion in Dallas and with the assistance of beyondblue and many other partners offered Dallas the experience and opportunity of a lifetime. To Dallas's credit he not only stepped up as a young leader but he proved to be a invaluable asset to the team being able to instantly connect and build relationships with kids and give peer support and be a positive role model for young indigenous peoples.

For more information, including a short video, please view Dallas' artist profile here.

Vietnam Marks IHHP's First International Tour

Australia gives the gift of hip-hop to Vietnam for 1000th anniversary

A group of performers who tour the country for beyondblue will make their debut on the international stage this April. Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (IHHP) is a troupe of gifted hip hop dance, rap and beat-boxing artists who convey positive messages for young people through movement and song workshops.

In Australia, the IHHP crew travels to remote Aboriginal communities teaching hip hop culture to children and young people, helping them develop their skills and confidence.

Four performers will fly to Vietnam as the Australian Government's gift to Hanoi to mark the one thousandth anniversary of the nation's capital city.

Michael Farah, co-director of Indigenous Hip Hop Projects, will accompany leading Indigenous breakdancer Matthew Presley, up and coming indigenous hip hop group Yung Warriors and award-winning break dancer Lukas Bellesini to Hanoi on April 16. IHHP will be collaborating with Jeremy Donavan Traditional Indigenous Artist from Queensland Australia.
The crew will run a two-hour dance and leadership workshop at Blue Dragon, a charity centre for disadvantaged street kids.

Michael Farah said the crew will promote the Youthbeyondblue mental health awareness messages of look, listen, talk and seek help together to Vietnamese young people.

'Our performances encourage thinking about being role models and get kids thinking about their future and the fact that everyone has it in them to become whatever they want to be if they just go for it,' Michael said.

'We're going to give the kids gifts, including Youthbeyondblue sweatbands and wristbands. Our whole aim is to create a bit of fun and excitement to uplift people's spirits.'

The IHHP representatives will then join a Vietnamese hip hop crew from the RMIT International University in Hanoi to develop a dance routine for the big weekend celebration.

On Saturday April 17, the two hip hop crews will perform at the opening ceremony for the Balgo Painting Exhibition in front of 200 Hanoi representatives, including officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the general public and the media.
ÒWe're going to be promoting awareness about what beyondblue is all about and look at the potential collaboration we could have with Vietnam youth services. It would be exciting if our work could be shared in remote communities in their country.

'We will represent youth and the modern Indigenous people. We want Vietnam to understand that Australia has so much to offer in terms of our arts and culture. We're not just about crocs, kangaroos and boomerangs.'

beyondblue CEO Leonie Young said: 'We are delighted and proud to have the IHHP crew represent Youthbeyondblue in Vietnam by drawing upon ancient styles of dance and Indigenous culture to tell stories that promote good mental health.'

Melbourne Uni Welcome Day, March 2010

We worked at Melbourne University Welcome Day Saturday 6th March, for the intake of Kwong Lee Dow First Years at the Parkville Campus. The event consisted of a round robin of activities to welcome the new cohort of Kwong Lee Dow First Years into the program. Here's the website to give you some more information about the program. There was a large group of 350 students that were divided into small groups of 8 and provided a series of activities that will allow them to get to know one another and have some fun on their welcome day. There was 4 x 30 mins sessions during this time and we would like a hip hop teacher to run 4 half hour sessions of about 90 people in each. IHHP also provided a Latin America Axe workshop and African Percussion workshops. Artists that were present at this event were Teal Bain Percussion, Little G, Alex Noguchi, Carlos Estagaribbia, Gillian Orrett, and ( Beat Box MC) Kevin Nugara, Presilla Axe workshops.

Sustainable Living Festival, Feb 2010

We volunteered to be a part of this festival on the basis that we really liked the philosophy behind it and gave our IHHP and beyondblue partnership opportunity to get exposure at Federation Square Stage in front of 200 young people from school all over Melbourne. Indigenous Hip Hop Projects attended the Friday Sustainable Living Festival Education Day on 19th February 2010. The Festival is a 3-day event held at Federation Square with Friday attracting schools from around the state to participate in a range of free educational activities around a theme of ecological and social sustainability. We would love a performance by young people for lunch-time (approx.12:30-1:00pm) to be held at Federation Square.

The Sustainable Living Festival is produced by the Sustainable Living Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation. The Festival is free and non-gated in order to attract as many people as possible and to extend the reach of our message as far as possible. The aim of the Festival is to engage the general public in creating a world that can sustain the community of life in all its forms, both locally and globally. The 2010 Festival had a particular focus on climate change and also a strong Indigenous theme. Presenters included Uncle Bob Randall, Wanyubi Marika CEO, Yirralka Rangers, NE Arnhem Land, Yananymul Mununggurr CEO, Laynhapuy Homelands Association Inc, and Uncle Larry Walsh. Participating organisations include Songlines Aboriginal Music Corporation, Charcoal Lane Restaurant, Victorian Corporation of Aboriginal Languages, and ANTAR.

Beyondblue resources were sent out to the festival by distribution and put in all the show bags that went out to the youth.

'The highlight was the Indigenous hip hop performers - outstanding - the children loved them. It was interactive, engaging and fun!'

Evonne Goolagong Cawley Tennis Leadership Camp, Jan 2010

For the third year in a row we have been involved in the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Tennis Leadership Camp. Young Indigenous Leaders from all over Australia and East Timor take part in this important camp and IHHP had the opportunity to facilitate workshops, talk strongly about beyondblue messages and leadership. We look forward to being apart of this Camp year in year out. Artists present were Michael Farah, Rearna Constantine, Jerome Farah, Lukas Bellisini, Matty Presley.

Gipsland Cultural Day, Jan 2010

IHHP and beyondblue in partnership with Lake Tyers Aboriginal Corporation, Lake Tyers Health and Children's Services, host a family community Health festival. This two day event was a great opportunity to work closely with Lake Tyers Health and Children's Services was conducting Young People Health Checks. It was a fantastic day 44 youth were screened, a much bigger number than last year. The event attracted youth from surrounding communities, Lake Entrance and Bairnsdale. Strong connection to the Local AMS was very pleasing.

We employed Victorian Indigenous Cultural Advisor /Artist/ Performer Paulie Wright, and also employed two Indigenous MC's from Payback records MC Little G and Johnny Mac. Michael Farah, Re-arna Constantine, Jerome Farah, Matty Presley, Lukas Bellisini facilitated the Hip Hop dance component.

Bendigo Cultural Day, Jan 2010

Womenjika Picnic in the park at Roselin Gardens Bendigo was huge success proudly match funded by City of Greater Bendigo. IHHP and beyondblue provided all the entertainment for the day and worked in really well together. We had Dion Brownfield, Matty Presley, Lukas Bellesini, Carlos Estagaribia, Gillian Orrett, facilitating the Hip Hop Dance performance workshop. Unkle Joe Gaia Indigenous Singer Song writer played guitar and sang 6 acoustic song solo, and Yung Warriors from Payback records performed three songs. Unkle brian Nelson Welcomed everyone to the Dja Dja Wrung / Yorta Yorta Country. BB t-shirts were worn, bb pop up banners were displayed and beyondblue sweats, wrists, and Indigenous post cards were distributed. Look Listen Talk, Seek Help beyondblue speeches were presented during the confidence circle.

Share The Spirit Festival, Jan 2010

It was our second year at this festival and what a huge increase in numbers this Australia Day with over 6000 people attending the festival. We were given our own IHHP/beyondblue, Payback Records Second Youth stage and we ran workshops and showcased talent all day on our stage with hundreds of people gathered around all day. Then we were given the opportunity to perform on the main stage along side artists such as Djolpa Mckenzie, Dan Sultan and Yung Warriors. Special Shout out to our partners for the day Payback Records (Nat Rat), Songlines Aboriginal Music Corporation, and beyondblue.

Echuca Flying Start Year 12 Seminar

The Flying Start Program was hosted at Rich River Golf Club on February 10th with all 120 year 12 students from Echuca Secondary College attending. The Flying Start Program aimed to challenge students to set goals for the coming year and focus on the year ahead. Whilst we encouraged students to challenge them selves, set goals, step outside their comfort zone and experience the benefits of participation. Our IHHP approach injected enthusiasm and motivated students to aim high and do their best. We discussed the themes around Stress Anxiety and Depression with such a big year with high expectations, we encouraged students to look after themselves and each other. beyondblue t-shirts were worn, bb pop up banners were displayed and beyondblue sweats, wrists, and Indigenous post cards were distributed. Look Listen Talk, Seek Help beyondblue speeches were presented during the confidence circle and all of the four one hour performance workshops. Artists that were present at this event were Dion Brownfield, Alex Noguchi, Carlos Estagaribbia, Gillian Orrett, and (Beat Box MC) Kevin Nugara.

Personal Development, Artist Camp, Jan 2010

IHHP hosted our week long 2010 Artists Camp From 27th - 30th January. This innovative leadership and artist training camp that identified group of hip hop artists from communities, mixed in with the most talented Hip Hop artists in Australia. The artists were trained as volunteer/employee leaders who will facilitate and support ongoing local and regional hip hop Projects around the Nation. The Camp incorporated themes of personal responsibility, transformational leadership and community development and aim to have long-lasting sustainable positive mental health outcomes moving from awareness to prevention of depression. Mellissa Reid and Michelle Noon gave a detailed beyondblue power point presentation to all our artists and defined the role and responsibilities on both sides of the IHHP and beyondblue partnership. Mandy Dahms presented an over view of the Kimberley's strategy and background on Wunan. Paulie Wright gave a cultural awareness presentation.

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The long walk