A group of young entrepreneurs, artistes and professionals from different districts along with the church are joining hands to organise ‘We Care: Love is Giving’, a fundraiser concert for the people of Kiphire who have been reeling under the impact of massive landslides triggered by the monsoon. The major roads to the district remain cut off for over a month and the people there have been facing shortage of essential commodities.
The ‘We Care’ concert will be held on September 16 at The Heritage (Old DC Bungalow) in Kohima where all the money raised through free-will donations will go to the monsoon disaster affected people in Kiphire.
The event will kick-off with an open mic session from 2.30 pm till 4.30 pm wherein anyone can perform. This will be followed by the main concert which will feature popular Naga bands and artistes including Powerfaith, SNF Dimapur, Tune Up Channel Mokokchung, Ethnic Future, Mengu Suokhrie & Band, Metet, Harmonic Voices, Mezanuo Ngukha, Brookee Shitiri, Zaza, Atsula, CBCK Children’s Chorus and Dreamz Unlimited.
Addressing a press conference in Kohima on Tuesday, Melekhoto Pucho of Symphony Productions, one of the main organisers of the concert said the idea of putting together the ‘We Care’ concert was conceived spontaneously by a group of friends who were discussing what they could do to extend a helping hand to the people of Kiphire. He said they were surprised and greatly encouraged that performers from not just Kohima, but Dimapur and Mokokchung as well have stepeed forward voluntarily to help raise funds for the cause.
He expressed concern that while social media is a powerful tool, a lot of negative thoughts and opinions were aired too. Stating that some people might ask why funds were being raised only for Kiphire, Pucho clarified that the event was just a small step and with so many talented people and organisations in Nagaland, ‘We Care’ organisers were hopeful that they could inspire and encourage others to come together to help “our brothers and sisters who are suffering” through the charity concert. He also made it clear that the concert was not being organised to compete with anyone or any group.
“We intend to put up a good show..... It will not be just a show where people come and donate and go, but one that they enjoy and give freely,” he added.
Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) youth secretary Vikuo Rhi said the youth department of NBCC was privileged to partner in the event, through which different communities could come together for a cause and also understand eachother’s ministries. Acknowledging that the church was always ‘in the picture’ in both good and bad situations and people tend to question what it was doing, the youth leader said the NBCC’s area of coverage spreads across Nagaland and it has been networking and coordinating with its associations in different districts.
“Our prayers are that, whatever we do, we are able to do it on time,” Rhi stated.
For the ‘We Care’ concert, he said they will disseminate information to all the 50 churches in Kohima that are under NBCC to pray and participate in the event. He also informed that the proceeds of the event will be handed over to the United Sangtam Baptist Church Association in Kiphire to reach the people who are in need.
For Yanpvuo Kikon, founder of Indihut and Naga Blog, the greater intent for the event was not the donations but the importance of the gesture.
The event is being initiated by Symphony Productions and Symphony Academy of Music, in collaboration with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Indihut and Musicians Guild, supported by Rattle & Hum Music Society; Eastern Mirror as media partner; and other partners - Seyie Auto, Lighthouse UBC, LEAD Entertainment, Ciekhan Fitness, Shiu Lights, de Oriental Grand, The Eastgate Hotel, LifePro Sound Solution, Imprint, Decibel, Basement Empire, Ete Coffee, and Occassions. All the partners are said to be onboard voluntarily as a gesture to the cause.
Organisers informed that entry to the show will be on free-will donation. Direct donations to the concert’s relief program can be made to Account No. 501920110000194 (IFSC: BKID0005019) till September 25.
Mention may be made that on August 29, the same group of youth have put together an open mic street jamming session in Kohima to raise funds for the citizens of Kiphire affected by monsoon disasters. A sum of INR 28,880 was collected then, which will also be handed over to the church body in Kiphire along with the amount raised at the September 16 ‘We Care’ concert, it was informed.
