Activity Update: Andy returned from a three week trip to Ghana in Oct 2008, and again in June 2009, during which he personally distributed tips given by DjembeDirect.com customers among the Africa Heartwood Project artisan team. "It was a total pleasure to take 100% of the donated funds and give them freely on your behalf, as tips from the heart. I return with a message of deep gratitude and genuine surprise of the artisans for the generosity of all those who donated tips. The money really does make a difference in the lives of individuals and their families. Thank you!" -Andy Jones, Director, Africa Heartwood Project
While the artisans who crafted your percussion instrument are compensated better than fair trade standards, we still wanted to create an opportunity for you to make a direct connection with those who made your instrument. For most musicians, there is a connection between you, the instrument, and the music that is produced. We want to add another dimension of that connection - the one between you, the instrument, and the breathing human being who made it in West Afrca. We have broken the boundaries of the traditional online marketplace by making purchase experience as personal and direct as possible. You and the people who will hear you play are the ultimate beneficiaries of the skill and labor of the individuals who spent their time and energy to build the finished product you are about to enjoy. We encourage you to include a tip - any amount - to be distributed proportionately to the African men, women, and/or children who had part in crafting the instrument.
We guarantee full transparency as your tip is handled personally by DjembeDirect and Africa Heartwood Project owners, and placed directly into the hands that made your instrument. We guarantee that 100% will be used for this purpose, with nothing being deducted for overhead or administrative expenses, not even the credit card transaction fees required to accept your donation. It is as close to you personally putting a bit of cash into the strong and calloused hands of the craftsman as it can get.
At this time all donation tips given through this portal will be distributed to individual African artisans at the AHP workshop in Ghana. We are working on building close enough relationships with the carvers and craftsmen in Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, where a few of our instruments come from.
Africa Heartwood Project is a registered 501(c)3 Public Charity #26-2457812 in the United States effective January 7, 2008, also a registered NGO in Ghana effective October 17, 2008.
All donations, contributions, and gifts are tax deductible under IRS code 170.
Meet just a few of the current and past, full and part time artisans and workers with Africa Heartwood Project in Ghana:
ISAAC
Ring maker, welder, raw materials sourcing, General Manager.
FOSTER
Drum finishing, bearing edge..
EVELYN
Drum oiling, loops and verts, cleaning, skin prep.
JUDITH
Axatse and bag maker, Isaac's wife, mother of three.
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