What we do
We support and promote the wellbeing and personal development of youth coming from precarious living conditions trough HipHop. We are a multicultural community representing unity in diversity.
“Through Hip Hop culture, we create spaces of belonging and promote the well-being and personal development of the youth. Young people of all backgrounds join to learn about the diverse elements of Hip Hop culture to build confidence and establish a healthy state of mind.”
Our Vision
Youth should be full of dreams, ambition and hope. Our vision is to liberate youth from the negative effects of harmful living conditions by using our means, our strengths and our passion. Harmful living conditions include factors such as high crime rates, violence, drug use, displacement or lack of access to education. HipHop can give wings to people, it can start new fires, which previously seemed extinguished and it can bring people together. We believe in the power of HipHop; that it’s culture change someone's life. HipHop culutre was born and evolved on the streets and equipped the people with values and principles to empower themselves.
HipHop culture gives the tools to change life in a positive direction. Hip Hop for Hope to inspire the youth.
HIPHOP EDUCATION
HIPHOP EDUCATION
Our Mission
With the elements of Hip Hop culture (Street Dance Styles, Rap, Graffiti, DJin, MCing and Knowledge) we empower young people to believe in themselves and their dreams through their strength! By using HipHop as Education Tool, we improve the mental and physical health, create community and promote personal development. In our regular activities (classes in elements of HipHop - Street Dance Styles, Rap, Graffiti, Djing, MCing, Knowledge). HipHop culture and its embodied practices are our tools for developing skills. We strengthen and rebuild fundamental values and principles like Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, Consistence, etc. that the youth can learn to independently direct their lives in a positive direction.
Well Being
Through the HipHop4Hope Methodology the youth gain self worth and learn about values and principles like respect, truth, discipline, independence and collaboration.
Personal Development
Through Regular Classes and Community Events we are promting the mental and physical well being of the students.
Community
Everyone needs a space of belonging. Therefore HipHop4Hope builds communities to express in healthy environments, make friends and feel supported.
We celebrate the Unity in Diversity
Impact
Our Methodology
We are working with youth, who are growing up in an unpredictable environment and who are dealing with mental health issues from the traumatic journey of fleeing from their home countries or growing up in social dramatic environments. These experiences affect their understanding of themself as well as the world they live in. Therefore we decided to use an approach which focuses on developing five fundamental values and principles to regain personal strength. The approach we are talking about is called TRICKD and stands for Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, Kindness and Discipline.
Trust
is an essential principle to create healthy relationships. Therefore our educators are in charge to ensure a safe and trustful environment for all participants. Through therapeutic movement exercise the youth can rebuild trust within themself and in connection with each other.
Respect
Respect yourself and others. Entering our classes requires giving mutual respect to everyone in the room. Respect is a two-side process. Many youth need to learn that they have to give respect first to receive constant respect from others. The educators are in charge to address misbehavior and ensure that the group is aligned with the basic rules in the classroom.
Independence
Is about realizing that everyone has the power to take responsibility for their life. "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any" - Alice Walker. Through constant encouragement and celebration of success we strengthen the self-worth of the youth and change the narrative of “being a victim” to “being the creator of life”. We promote independent decision-making based on reflection and critical thinking.
Kindness
Being a kind person is a positive character trait and opens doors.The fact of being kind enables us to get along with each other and reduces conflict. A main focus of our work is to make sure our community is welcoming and celebrates diversity.
Collaboration
The understanding of collaboration is a key skill in life. “It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” - Charles Darwin. The act of unification, regardless of the reasons for coming together leads to earning/growth and enables things individuals can not achieve alone. All classes are structured in which regular partner and group exercise are involved. The participants inspire each other and they join competitions in teams.
Discipline
Discipline and perseverance are two essential skills to achieve set goals. In our classes discipline is the foundation of learning new skills. In conversations with the youth we abstract this commitment into daily life to create a real life connection to what the participants experience in the classroom.
Our educators maintain this approach through different exercise and regular exchange circles. These circle exchanges are guided discussions. Our experience of the last two years showed that building and developing these values and principles changes the following journey of youths radically in a positive direction.