iDIDJ Philanthropy

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Philanthropy
Phi·lan·thro·py
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin philanthropia, from Greek philanthropia, from philanthropos loving people, from phil- + anthropos human being
Date: circa 1623
Meaning:
1: goodwill to fellow humankind, especially active effort to promote human welfare; altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons, by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals, and by generosity to other socially useful purposes
2: a philanthropic act or gift
3: an organization distributing or supported by philanthropic funds

“Philanthropy” may best be defined as, “private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of life.” This distinguishes it from government (public initiatives for public good) and business (private initiatives for private good).

Whilst iDIDJ Australia is set-up as a business, it is difficult to ignore the plight of the Indigenous people we work with. In our 16 years working with and living alongside Aboriginal individuals, families and communities in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia, the downward spiral of disadvantage and dysfunction can be described as nothing but atrocious.

According to one recent government report, the cycle of disadvantage begins at birth, with 20% of Indigenous women who give birth still teenagers compared to just 3% of the rest of the population. Forty per cent of indigenous women smoke while pregnant, there are double the number of stillbirths, and babies are more than twice as likely to be of low birth weight. The cycle continues with increased risk of child abuse and less than average educational outcomes. Poverty, contact with the justice system, disability, early life transitions from education and into early parenting all intersect with and compound each other.

However, these figures underrepresent the grim reality in Arnhem Land communities which are among the most remote and most under-serviced places in Australia. Some would say these communities resemble Third World living conditions.

Dr Griffith, a senior lecturer at James Cook University and a policy adviser to the NT Government, has called for an urgent review of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) methods, saying current figures "hide or minimise" the degree of disadvantage.

"They significantly understate the disadvantage of remote indigenous communities in some of their statistics and totally exclude them from others," he said.

"They cause the disadvantage of remote and indigenous populations to be significantly understated when allocating education and health funding by Commonwealth, state and territory governments ...

"This is a major concern, as many of the Commonwealth's policy decisions and resource allocation models targeting disadvantage are based on ABS data."

"It may be the population profiles and disadvantage in small, remote indigenous communities are so extreme that it is politically expedient for governments not to want to make comparisons with Australian mainstream population profiles," he said.

"These problems will have to be overcome if there is to be a genuine effort to address disadvantage with closing the gap policies and strategies."

At iDIDJ Australia, we don't need statistics to know that there is suffering and devastation in Aboriginal Australia. Four of our star YouTube yidaki players - Milkay Mununggurr, Nicky Yunupingu, Yomunu Yunupingu, and Sylvester Liyakindirr Gurruwiwi - have passed away from suicide. Young actor Steven Wilinydjangu, shown in our Ten Canoes trailer, also took his own life. Jason Guwanbal's 3 year old grandson died in a house fire. George Rrurambu has died from cancer. Nigel Barrakawuy suffered a complicated heart problem and ended up at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for life-saving surgery. Russell Ngadayngaday Wanapuyngu is trapped in the long grass lifestyle and drinking himself silly in between bouts of being locked up in 'spin dry'. We know of many many more cases of deaths, assaults, injuries and illnesses that have afflicted our Aboriginal friends and families. Darryl Dikarrnga suffered a near-fatal heart attack earlier in 2009. Adam Marrilaga is covered in so many scabies scars and active scabies infections the water from having a shower hurts his skin. Both Darryl and Adam took up artist-in-residency positions at iDIDJ Australia in 2009 in order to get better.

It is not all doom-and-gloom, however, and the flow of life continues. Marcey Yungun, who stayed with us for an extended length of time and went to school here in Melbourne, became the first student to finish Year 12 at Ramingining Community Education Centre in Arnhem Land. Luke Djamanggi had a new baby in 2009, and so did Nelson Dhapan. Darryl Dikarrnga, on doctor's order, quit smoking cigarettes and gave up alcohol (then got back onto it before giving up again). Isaiah "Widi" Barrakawuy went through his initiation ceremony and came out a man. Djalu Gurruwiwi proved he could run his own independent Masterclass. Geoffrey Gurrumul and the Chooky Dancers are getting widespread acclaim as the world gets to know them.

iDIDJ Australia is not an aid organisation, we do not receive any government or other funding, and we are not a medical or counselling service. However, we feel we are making a difference in the work we do. We are a grass-roots, community-focussed organisation working directly with individuals and families.

Why we need your support

We are fund-raising in order to continue our mission "To lead the way in encouraging the emergence of a new relationship between global consumer culture and the Aboriginal custodians of the didgeridoo in northern Australia, through a combination of advocacy, promotion, education, and ethical trade" (see our About Us webpage) and the intertwined goal of enhancement of Indigenous lives.

Your donation will be used to expand our artist-in-residence program, to further develop our YouTube channel as a platform for public education and as an archive of invaluable cultural information and video material for Indigenous people, and to enhance touring and other income-generating opportunities for Indigenous dancers, singers, and didgeridoo players.

Our artist-in-residence program allows our artisans to further develop and expand their careers first and foremost. But it is also a lot more than that. It can be an opportunity for respite for those like Darryl Dikarrnga and Adam Marrilaga recovering from major health issues. For some of our Arnhem Land guests, it is their first balanced and nutritious meals they're had in their lives. With access to counselling, medical and dental care through the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, iDIDJ Australia is able to ensure the continued physical and mental well-being of Indigenous Australians. Our artist-in-residence program also opens the door to positive educational outcomes for artisans and extended family members who come to stay with us... Marcey Yungun, Solomon Abala, Jay Jay Mani, students from Yilpara outstation, Sheridan Amutjani, and 2 sisters Budat and Mulan have all benefitted from having part of their education in a mainstream Victorian school, and whom iDIDJ Australia have supported through financial and other forms of assistance.

Our YouTube channel continues to inspire, educate, document, and preserve for posterity, with the largest and most extensive range of video clips on Top End Aboriginal culture and the place the didgeridoo has in it. We now have over 2000 subscribers and nearly 4700 friends worldwide. Our videos are often downloaded onto mobile phones in Arnhem Land!

Your donation will help kick-start and promote artistic and musical careers, restore health to Indigenous Australians we work with, enhance the income-earning potential of our artisans, and provide educational opportunites not found in remote communities.

How your donation will make a difference

The photos below show some of the people whose lives became intertwined with ours at iDIDJ Australia, in one way or another and for various periods of time. They have been times of anxiety, utter joy, deep sadness, fun, grief, frustration, celebration, pride...

We hope you share in our aspirations, hopes and dreams. For food security. For cultural maintenance. For equality. For a good and long life. For a better world...

For your life, and my life, and our collective lives, to be intertwined in meaningful, philanthropic ways. As global citizens and with the power of the internet, the exciting possibility to change a person's life from half-way around the world is never more easy or real. Please donate to iDIDJ Australia by clicking on the Paypal donation buttons below.

Clockwise from top left: newborn Bulanydjan from Ramingining at the Royal Children's Hospital recovering from heart surgery; the Yilpara mob down here doing schooling at Worawa College; Bulanydjan and Bangaditjan at the RCH; Darryl Dikarrnga at the 5-star Sebel Playford Hotel in Adelaide; Abala and Mani enjoying yum cha in Melbourne; Darryl having dinner at iDIDJ Australia; Darryl in the kitchen of iDIDJ Australia; Geoffrey Gurrumul and Adam Marrilaga at iDIDJ Australia calling up families.

Clockwise from top left: David Dharrapuy; the Chooky Dancers with Michael Long at Melbourne airport; Milkay's grave at Ski Beach; Darryl at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show; Djakapurra Munyarryun having a rest at iDIDJ Australia; the Chooky Dancers posing for a pic; the Chooky Dancers again; Waka' Mununggurr, Wesley and Wukun Wanambi in Melbourne.

Clockwise from top left: Francis Djulibing, Ten Canoes actress, with Dwayna; Dwayna and sister Florence at Docklands, Melbourne, having a bite to eat; Yilpara mob with paintings and yidaki; Yungun sharing the Christmas cheer at iDIDJ Australia; Valerie Milminyina, artist-in-residence at iDIDJ Australia; Susan Gunariny, Yungun and Valerie relaxing at iDIDJ Australia; Yungun and Gotjan from Milingimbi; Matthew Warrak schooling in Melbourne.