UNICEF Africa Named Beneficiary Of Africamix Traveling Arts and Music Festival

SACRAMENTO, Calif., /PRNewswire/ -- Africamix, a California-based nonprofit organization announced today that UNICEF Africa will be a primary beneficiary of its traveling arts and music festival organized to help combat child abuse and neglect. The volunteer-organized and oriented festival is scheduled to visit 20 countries around the world beginning in June

According to Beatrice Gatebuke, Africamix principal spokesperson and the USA festival organizer, there is a growing need for attention to improving the life and protecting the rights of children in Africa -- particularly in those regions especially impacted by civil wars, the HIV/AIDS health epidemic and poverty. Researches have demonstrated no social problem has ever been brought under control by providing after-the-fact treatment to the victims of the problem. Preventive, proactive, before-the-fact interventions have, historically, been the only effective way to control or eliminate important social problems

"If we can use music celebrations to spread messages of HIV/AIDS prevention and other social problems, then we can also use music celebrations to promote awareness and prevention of child abuse and neglect," Ms Gatebuke said.

The collective volunteer pledge festival will commence its global tour in California in June. Hosts for the 20-country tour include Canada in July; England and France in August; Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia in September; Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa in October; Botswana, Angola, Congo Brazzaville, DR Congo and Senegal in November and Mali, Sierra-Leone and Nigeria in December.

Ms. Gatebuke also added that while no one expects the touring arts and music festival to end the global problem of child abuse and neglect, but it offers the benefit of a new concept that demonstrate that musicians and artists should be a part of any collective effort aimed at community-based child abuse intervention and prevention activities. Keeping children safe is a community responsibility, and prevention must be a community task. Every segment of society must be involved, including artists and musicians

For more information or to volunteer your talents to the Africamix collective pledge tour, visit their Web site at http://www.africamix.org