"It was a pleasure to be invited to play music for the children from Fiji School of the Blind, but I did not imagine how much my life would change forever from the moment I played the first chord and saw their smiles"
- Andre Comaru, 2016

Our Goal

Be Happy Music Club is a volunteer project with the mission to bring music to children living with disabilities. We aim to promote social inclusion, musical ability, self-expression and enjoyment.

How it started

Be Happy Music Club started in August 2016 when I, Andre Comaru, decided to leave everything behind in Australia to volunteer in the Fiji Islands. Once in Fiji I was involved in many different projects as a volunteer; however I felt that music was the best way I could contribute to the community. One day I was invited to play some music to the children at the Fiji School of the Blind, and from that moment everything in my life  would change.

I still clearly remember it as if it were yesterday; how nervous I felt because I really didn't know what to expect, and I was unsure if the children would like my music. Nonetheless I ended up going there and as soon as I played the very first chord of the song "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley, I could see the positive change in the children's faces. I thought to myself, how can I make sure music will always be part of their lives?

Our achievements

After the children of Be Happy Music Club performed for the worldwide event "Playing for Change International Day", the club became well-known around the main Fiji Island of Viti Levu. The event attracted the local media which helped us reach the local communities and promote Be Happy Music Club the outer islands.

see articles below:

Article 1: Breaking social stigmas through music

Article 2: Using Music to express oneself

Article 3 : Playing for Change Day

Furthermore, Be Happy Music Club, with the children at Fiji School of the Blind, created their first music clip recording. The children always loved to play the song "Don't worry, Be happy" by Bobby MecFerrin. From reflections and insights about what might make the children worried or unhappy, we re-wrote the song. In partnership with Procera studio and the First Fighter production company, we were able to record our own version of the song which we created into an amazing music clip. The music clip was approved by the official publisher of the song, "Original Artists" in Los Angeles, which you can check out the final result below:

Our Future

In January 2017 I returned to Australia, however, Be Happy Music Club has continued to run. At the moment, we are able to help 20 children in Fiji with the help of two local musicians (Apakuki Nalawa and Ben Masirewa) who continue to contribute their time in facilitating the project at the Fiji School for the Blind.

Recently, Be Happy Music Club received a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education in Fiji which gave us the opportunity to apply for a DAP (Direct Aid Program) through Australian High Commission. We have now been approved for DAP which means that we are able to extend the Be Happy Music Club to three other locations around the Fiji islands.

However, the DAP funding will only cover the cost to buy instruments. I will need to travel to Fiji in September to set up the new Be Happy Music Clubs in order for me to provide training to local musicians and organize all the logistics. To make this happen, Be Happy Music Club needs to raise around AUD$5,000 before the end of August this year.

We are aiming to start the project in three different schools for children with special needs, located in: Lautoka, Savu Savu and Sigatoka. All the proposed schools are on board with the program and are looking forward to Be Happy Music Club starting.  With your help, we have the opportunity to help over 80 children living with various disabilities in Fiji.

Accountability

In order for people who donate to be kept up to date, we will have an open google document which will be shared to track how the donations are used and all receipts will be kept for donators to access. Once I am in Fiji, I will keep sending daily videos documenting all the steps involved along the way.

On behalf of the children from Fiji, I would like to thank you very much and please do not hesitate to reach me at [email protected] if you require any further information.

Vinaka

Andre Comaru

The funds will be used to cover extra expenses the project requeires such as: 

- 1 x flight ticktes Australia - Fiji (return)

- Vehicle rentals and fuel for transporting the intruments from Suva to Lautoka, Sigatoka and Savu Savu 

- Basic accomodation and food for 3 weeks

Fiji is one of the most famous destinations for holidays due to the beautiful landscapes, warm water, great food, amazing waves and so on, however, there are issues that you only get to see once you live there. Unfortunatelly there's a lot of work to be done in the community with regards to children living with disabilities.  For example, according to the pacificdisability.org "less than 10% of children with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region attend school, compared to 70% of children who do not have a disability. These low levels of educational attainment lead to high unemployment of persons with disabilities, which UNEnable estimates as double that of the general population. According to the International Labour Organization, the rate of unemployment for persons with a disability in the Asia Pacific Region ranges from 50% to 90%."

One of the hardests challenges is to break is the stgima surrounding disabilities and the struggle to make sure everyone has the same rights and opportunities in the island.  The push for equlity for people with disabilities has only just begun, and Be Happy Music Club is an organization trying to assist with this fight.

Fijian community and culture are very much connceted through the use of music and we feel that it is music that will help us bridge the equality gap for these children.  We have seen this happen while working together with the Fiji Society for the Blind and the Fiji School of the Blind. Now, it's time to go further and help even more children!  With your help, we can do it!