NESI In India – Building Confidence Through Arts & Music

New Employment Skills for India (NESI) is a project introduced to India by Superact, a UK based not-for-profit organization responsible for a number of successful social impact projects in Europe. Superact teamed up with DB Tech and Bandstand Cultural Society in India to form the multi faceted arts program. Using music and the arts as tools, NESI helps underprivileged women from low-income backgrounds by providing them with the skills, confidence and self-purpose necessary for employment.

The program, which began in September, will culminate at an event set to take place on 15 November at Dadar Chowpatty in Mumbai. Each of the 75 women trained will take the stage for the first time and showcase the music they have learned to a public audience. The event will be followed by a reception which will feature a performance by London based B n’ M. The duo, known for their originality includes beatboxing soprano Heidi Heidelberg and experimental Colombian flautist Mauricio Velasierra.

The team over at Mumbai based music PR firm Little Big Noise, who have been working with NESI, gave us an insight into the project – “The progress has been incredible. Women who were once very apprehensive and shy are now so much more responsive and communicate openly and with confidence”.

The trainers responsible include Stuart DaCosta (known mainly or his work with Something Relevant), percussionist Anand Bhagat and dance therapist Renelle Snelleksz.

It’s always heartening to see the power of creativity being channeled for the betterment of people’s lives. The culminating event is free, open to the public and will take place at 5 pm at Don Bosco, Kurla.