Field Band Foundation, South Africa Information

The Field Band Foundation (FBF) is a Non-Profit Company which was established in 1997 as an innovative youth development programme aimed at economically and socially challenged youth in South Africa. Currently, there are 23 sites of operation in 7 out of 9 provinces providing a combination of music, performance and lifeskills education after school for nearly 6 000 young people, which means 46 bands in different communities playing brass and percussion instruments. Each band is led by a young local management team of volunteers and community stakeholders with strong support from the Johannesburg-based head office. The development model is one of role-modelling positive behavior that promotes values-based citizenship and emotional resilience. This has been clearly articulated into a Theory of Change with indicators for monitoring and evaluation within various time frames. The young band leaders are supported through mentoring and coaching; site visits and regular peer meetings to consistently hone their ability to effectively lead the projects in their areas. The FBF has retained the confidence and support of a variety of long-term local and international donor and sponsorships, and has won the following awards: 1998: BASA Award for Best Long-Term Development Project, 2002: Arts and Culture Trust Award for Best Practice Project, 2007: Musina Municipality Arts Project of the Year Award, 2007: Gold Partner Award Fredskorpset, Norway, and 2013: National Lotteries Board Compliance with Grant Funding Award.