Bridges for Music
Bridges for Music

Impact

Our Mission

Bridges for Music’s mission is to provide quality education opportunities to unemployed creative youth in under-resourced communities, equipping them with the necessary tools to break through the poverty cycle.

Infographic showing how Bridges for Music's work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

SDG ALIGNMENT

Bridges for Music aligns with the following SDGs to contribute to the common UN goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”

THEORY OF CHANGE & IMPACT MODEL

State-of-the-art learning spaces
with creative and holistic programs

Empowering unemployed youth from under-resourced communities with technical and psychosocial skills, that will help them access income-generating opportunities and thrive as creative agents of change within their communities.

THEORY OF CHANGE

Theory of change flowchart. Problem: young creatives from underserved communities lack access to resources, skills and opportunities, leading to discouragement, mental health problems and unemployment. What we do: music production and DJ training, entrepreneurship sessions, computer literacy, connections to income generation and the creative industry, outings in nature, counselling, mindfulness sessions, round tables, and a safe space with daily meals and positive role models. If we do that, then students gain competence for employment, autonomy over their paths, positive mental health practices, stronger social support, intrinsic motivation and emotional intelligence. Ultimately, young creatives are equipped with the skills and support needed to fulfil their potential.

IMPACT MODEL

Impact model diagram. Problem: youth at risk, surrounded by lack of hope, aspiration, crime and violence, poverty, poor education, capital and unemployment. Solution: building creative schools, delivering holistic education programs and connecting youth to opportunities. Outcome: creative change makers with confidence, safety, security, aspiration, self-worth, autonomy, dignity, hope, inspiration, self-reliance, belonging, social connection and 21st-century readiness.

Every time I go to the Bridges For Music Academy in Langa, I realise the power of music in this country to catalyse education and change. I’m proud to be part of this revolutionary education model.”

Quote by Msaki, South African composer,singer and songwriter.

UNDERSTANDING OUR BENEFICIARIES

Reinforcing cycle diagram of our beneficiaries' circumstances. Adverse events and environment in the outside world — financial insecurity, limited job access, crime, food insecurity, lack of role models, past traumatic events, lack of education, services and technology — reinforce psychosocial challenges in the inside world, such as low self-esteem, limited goal setting, no view of the future, feeling stuck, mental health challenges, frequent illness and limited language and tech capacity, which in turn deepen the outside-world barriers.