Help Matthew Teach Music & Save Trees in Tanzania!

Hello! Habari! My name is Matthew Mitchell, and I am studying at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music to be a professional clarinetist. I am honored to have been invited to serve as a Volunteer Teaching Artist with the Daraja Music Initiative for the Summer of 2024 -- and I need your help!

The Daraja Music Initiative (D.M.I.) is a ground-breaking interdisciplinary program combining music education with conservation awareness. D.M.I.’s mission is to promote the conservation and sustainability of the mpingo tree, commonly known as African Blackwood or Grenadilla, through music education in the underserved community of Moshi, Tanzania. The mpingo tree is crucial for crafting musical instruments such as clarinets, oboes, and string instruments. It is commercially endangered and requires approximately 70-100 years of growth before it can be harvested. Frequent plantings, maintenance, and environmental education are imperative for the preservation of this vital resource. Established in 2010, DMI has achieved remarkable success and impact, as outlined in the Progress Report statistics available on its website.

In this program, I will engage with students ages 5-12 at Majengo Primary School. My responsibilities as a teaching artist include providing weekly clarinet and general music lessons, organizing educational field trips to nature preserves, arranging visits to local universities to experience professional musicians in Tanzania, conducting daily outreach trips to local schools, and delivering specific education about the mpingo tree. The students of Moshi rarely get to leave, so these experiences are crucial for their development. Additionally, I will contribute to the sustainable replanting efforts of thousands of mpingo trees, ensuring their vitality for future generations.

Professionally, this experience will significantly enhance my teaching skills and pedagogy. Communicating and building relationships with students who primarily speak Swahili with

only basic English presents a unique challenge, one that I eagerly anticipate. Guiding over 50 new musicians at the beginning of their musical journey is both a challenging and rewarding task. Moreover, collaborating with exceptional fellow teaching artists from across the country will enrich my pedagogical approach, and sharing my craft with others will enhance my clarinet performance abilities.

Personally, this experience will change my life. Immersing myself in a new culture and way of living, interacting with a diverse community, and embarking on an included three-day

safari to explore the breathtaking Mt. Kilimanjaro region will undoubtedly broaden my horizons and deepen my understanding of the world.

Financially, while the program tuition of $2,800 covers housing, meals, drinking water, in-country transportation, and the safari, additional expenses such as flights, visas, and

vaccinations are not included. A budget flight to Tanzania ranges between $1,800 and $2,100. Estimating the total cost at around $5,000, I need your help to make this invaluable professional and outreach opportunity possible.

Having been accepted as one of only fifteen teaching artists to this mission following a competitive application and interview process, I am eager to secure funding right away. You can help me make a difference in the world. Let's work together for the kids!