The c.i.p.h.e.r: The community international progressing Hip Hop evolutions and revolutions Erasmus Project

Project Title

The c.i.p.h.e.r: The community international progressing Hip Hop evolutions and revolutions

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

‘The c.i.p.h.e.r.’ (The community international progressing hip hop evolutions & revolutions) is a yearlong program and a lifelong network for youth between 13 and 30 years old that facilitates an international Hip Hop cultural dialogue to create a community of engaged artists who represent and honor the roots, elements and true purpose of Hip Hop to bring about societal change. In September 2015 ‘The c.i.p.h.e.r.’ was kicked off by The c.i.p.h.e.r. crew (Belgium), Vzw AjKo (Belgium), ‘A school called tribe’ team of Caleidoscopia vzw (Belgium), Aight (The Netherlands) and Gangway e.V. (Germany).

Why? Taking up responsibility and accountability as an artist, active agent for societal change and representative of Hip Hop culture, this is what The c.i.p.h.e.r is about. It combats the indifference and divide of our society with awareness, articulation and action. Meeting youth where they are at, using Hip Hop culture and pedagogy, which is at the core of our project. Hip Hop pedagogy is a youth-centered approach that engages youth to study and read, to develop critical thinking, to understand their environment and how it influences what they think of others and how they act. It motivates them to take up responsibility as an artist and representative of the Hip-Hop culture on societal topics that are important to them and their communities.

What? From September 2015 until the end of June 2016, about 20 to 25 youth from different countries and cities collaborated virtually during 2 workshops per month (with the exception of holiday periods). They created original music and videos on topics that matter to them and their community (identity, creativity & experimentation, social justice, unity & collaboration, education). Each partner & group of participants worked together with another partner & group of participants for 2 months (+/- 4 workshops), after which the collaborations rotated to make sure all groups had the chance to work together. In total we organized 3 transnational project meetings and 38 workshops (with the different partner organizations) during which the youth worked together virtually. We also organized two youth exchanges (2 – 7th of November 2015 in Berlin, 4 – 9th of April in Antwerp).

How? Fun, dynamic, youth-lead workshops twice a month and two youth exchanges during the year facilitated the co-creation of art. The workshops included (1) exploration of a societal topic based on research and involvement of guest speakers and local grass roots movements, (2) cross-border virtual meetings with youth from another country or region and (3) time for creation and recording. The topics and partnerships between the groups of youth changed every two months. The youth exchanges gave youth the opportunity to travel, visit/host other youth, perform together and deepen their connection and collaboration.

Who? The community is for youth between 13 and 30 years of age who were supported by project mentors and by the project consultant spiritchild (Hip Hop artist and pedagogue from New York, USA) and project coordinator Dorien De Vidts (learning & development professional and singer-songwriter, Belgium)

Benefits? It allowed the youth (1) to develop personally, professionally and artistically and get tangible skills (song writing, recording, documenting, communicating, problem solving, organizing), (2) to broaden their network locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and strengthen their ties with their own communities and grass roots movements, and (3) to explore and perform in European cities. It allowed youth workers, mentors and centers (1) to apply Hip Hop pedagogy, a highly effective youth-centered approach, (2) to develop their coaching skills to support youth to lead workshops, grow as an artist and create social change and (3) to stimulate intercultural dialogue and long-term cross-borders collaborations through the unifying culture and pedagogy of Hip Hop.

Results? The youth created an album with 12 original songs ‘The c.i.p.h.e.r. chapter I: the pioneers’, 4 music videos and a documentary together on the following societal topics: identity (our own story, the story of refugees), creativity & experimentation (Hip Hop culture), social justice (poverty & equal rights), unity & collaboration, education. (album: soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/xspiritmental/sets/the-cipher-chapter-i-the-pioneers; 4 music videos available on our youtube channel : The c.i.p.h.e.r. community international progressing hiphop evolutions and revolutions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzO30MlZAasnhFlDGQSZNXg; website with information, music and videos about ‘The c.i.p.h.e.r.’: https://commusaic.com/the-c-i-p-h-e-r/; public Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/The-cipher-1676732289241882/?fref=ts).

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 28125 Eur

Project Coordinator

The c.i.p.h.e.r crew & Country: BE

Project Partners

• Aight
• Gangway e.V.
• Caleidoscopia vzw
• Vzw AjKo