Welcome to my fund raising page.

I have recently released my new album: The Dance and the Ritual

I will donate 50% of the proceeds ( less a small proportion of the production costs) from the first 50 copies sold via my website at www.lifehouse-records.com to The Mityana Community Foundation.

Please click on the link to read my diary published exclusively in the Northumberland Gazette.

http://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/features/Steve39s-Ugandan-Diary--February.5009495.jp

I have been assisting the Mityana Community Foundation in their vital work of promoting fire safety for children, sustainable development and increasing democracy within the community. News of the fire related fatalities and the sorrow caused moved me to try to help the Mityana Community Foundation in their endeavours.

I do realise that times are very difficult in the present economic situation and I really do appreciate any help that I receive in order to achieve my target of £1000. I'm a music teacher and a singer/songwriter/guitarist.

Please click on the link to see photo's of my visit.

http://www.myspace.com/stevenballantyne

On my first evening away from the group I had the pleasure of meeting an African drummer who performed in a local band.  Altogether there are 25 band members, 15 musicians and 10 dancers.

The band leader was a gentleman by the name of Devis, who is an extraordinary musician. He gave me the warmest of welcome's and invited me to play with his group on several occasions. I happily joined in on djembe drum. I consider myself a very able drummer but Devis' group would eventually send my inadequacies racing to the surface.

I arranged to play with the band at our hotel on the final night, by way of celebrating our visit to Uganda. The audience consisted of Mityana Community Foundation members, our interpreters, hotel staff, other guests and locals. The people of Africa are very keen to provide a decent send off and they would prove to fulfil this cultural obligation with unbridled enthusiasm.

When the instruments were set up, xylophones, djembe drums, bass drum, conga's, bongo's, shakers and whistle’s it was time to rehearse for the performance. There is no strict format to follow when joining in with this music; it is purely a case of feeling the rhythm and improvising confidently. In other words, if you drum out of time it is very noticeable.  

Even though the other members in the band could not speak any English, I still felt their intentions and their enthusiasm, as if we were all having a big conversation ... I guess we were ...but using the language of music to convey our thoughts and feelings instead of words. I remember so many happy and smiling faces.

In the audience that night were people from all over the globe. As I looked around the room feet were tapping, heads were nodding and hands were clapping. This was the first time I had played to such a multi-national audience and every single person was enjoying the music of the land, as if brought together by our sounds.

That was when I finally realised how much we all understand the language of music, a common language ... and all in the name of one race. 

Having returned home safely I look back on my trip with great fondness.  There are children in need of fire safety training all over this region who will be very grateful for a visit from The Mityana Community Foundation.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Mityana Community Foundation gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thanks for listening, 

Steve