MUSIC CHANGES LIVES
Music can address the social and emotional needs of a population.
Not only does Make Music Matter help people deal with the trauma they’ve experienced but we bring survivors together so they know they’re not alone.
Music can address the social and emotional needs of a population.
Not only does Make Music Matter help people deal with the trauma they’ve experienced but we bring survivors together so they know they’re not alone.
From survivors of sexual violence to child soldiers, music is a channel for expression for those otherwise incapable of expressing the heartache of their experience.
Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of the Healing in Harmony program in helping to significantly reduce ptsd, anxiety, and depression, and to break stigma, enabling individuals to better reintegrate their community.
Not only is making music a starting point for therapeutic conversations, it is also a versatile teaching medium.
Historically, music, storytelling, and dance have all be used to transmit information from one generation to the next.
Music is the cornerstone of our programming because it engages everyone. Whether a person actively participates in music-making, or just listens, the experience is beneficial.
The message of a song has an impact wherever it is heard, reaching many people beyond its creators.
In areas where literacy rates are low, music is an effective way to engage, inform, and raise awareness.
When songs by Healing in Harmony artists are played on the radio, survivors’ voices reach beyond their homes to massive audiences and challenge listeners to change the world in which they live.
Make Music Matter fuses international development expertise with some of the greatest minds and talents in the music industry.
Capitalizing on our strengths and building on our successes is essential to the effectiveness and sustainability of our work.
The original Make Music Matter effort began with a song produced by Darcy Ataman. With support from the Canadian International Development Agency, Darcy brought together several popular recording artists to write and record a music single, Song for Africa, and an accompanying video to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic in Africa. The song was presented to global leaders during the opening ceremonies of the XVI International Aids Conference held in Toronto in 2006. The proceeds from the sale of the song supported various projects in Africa. A documentary film, also entitled Song for Africa, followed artists involved in the original project on a trip to Kenya to see the people and projects impacted by the funds raised. The documentary aired on the Canadian broadcaster CityTV in 2007 and was seen in approximately 30,000 homes. It aired several more times, reaching an even larger audience.
The Healing in Harmony pilot program kicked off in the fall of 2009. Over 70 youth from across Rwanda participated. Local educators guided the interactive training and health education sessions while local and visiting artists facilitated the creation of music. Songs were recorded and disseminated to local communities and used as outreach tools on local radio and elsewhere, spreading positive health messages and helping to break the cycle of stigma.
MMM created a second documentary and its first full-length album, both entitled Rwanda: Rises Up!, released in June 2010. This time the documentary followed Steve Bays of Hot Hot Heat, Sarah Slean, Damhnait Doyle, Tim Edwards of Crash Parallel,and legendary producer David Bottrill (Tool, Silverchair, Muse, Smashing Pumpkins) as they traveled to Rwanda to visit the Healing in Harmony program. The documentary looked at Rwanda’s recovery from the devastation of genocide and offered a firsthand glimpse at how the power of hope changes lives for the better. The broadcast premiere of Rwanda: Rises Up! reached 200,000 households. The accompanying album fused the sounds of local Rwandan artists with the talents of Ian D’Sa of Billy Talent, Cone McCaslin of Sum 41, Classified, and the Trews. An inspiring work of art, it marked the first time many Rwandan artists were paid for their talents.
Make Music Matter hosted Panzi Hospital Founder and Director Dr. Denis Mukwege in Winnipeg for a series of events recognizing his humanitarian efforts and raising awareness and funds for the victims of extreme sexual violence at Panzi Hospital, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “Right Her Future – Manitobans Standing with the Women of Panzi Hospital” was an evening of dialogue and music featuring an impressive line-up of humanitarians, dignitaries including Dr. Denis Mukwege from Panzi Hospital, retired lieutenant-general Roméo Dallaire from the Child Soldiers Initiative, Dr. Samantha Nutt founder of War Child North America, and Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. Special guest performers included Jim Cuddy, Sum 41‘s Cone McCaslin, Billy Talent‘s Ian D’Sa, and local Congolese artists.
With support from the Humanitarian Innovation Fund and in partnership with Panzi Foundation USA, Make Music Matter launched an innovative music therapy program – Healing in Harmony – to support psychosocial healing for survivors of sexual violence, vulnerable community members, children, and staff at Panzi Hospital’s Maison Dorcas aftercare facility.
“Parce Que J’ai Mal” (“Because I’m in Pain”), written by survivors of sexual violence at Maison Dorcas, marked the first release by artists in the Healing in Harmony program.
Make Music Matter attended the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul to present the Healing in Harmony program to a global audience including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
With support from the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, Healing in Harmony artists at Uyisenga Ni Imanzi in Rwanda released their debut album “No Love No Peace”.
With partners at Panzi Hospital and Foundations, Make Music Matter were selected to embark on a two year journey to scale up programming in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond. An innovation initiative by ELRHA and the Humanitarian Innovation Fund and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Journey to Scale included funding, mentoring, and tailored support for the expansion of our Healing in Harmony program.
Make Music Matter joined honoured guest Buffy Sainte-Marie at a special event hosted at the Senate of Canada in celebration of the power of music. Long time Make Music Matter partner Ian D’Sa of Billy Talent along with vocalist Hailee Rose performed My Body is Not a Weapon, a song written by Healing in Harmony artists at Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With Panzi Hospital and Foundations, Make Music Matter launched a new studio in Mulamba, DRC, at a satellite clinic of Panzi Hospital. This kicked off the first Healing in Harmony program in a rural area – one of the major goals of the Journey to Scale.
Make Music Matter joined forces with Warner Music Canada to launch a new record label, bringing songs written and recorded by Healing in Harmony artists to a global audience.
In the final phase of the Journey to Scale with ELRHA, Make Music Matter partnered with World Vision DRC to open a new Healing in Harmony site in Beni, DRC. It was the first site to integrate into another organization and marked a major step in the development of a social franchise model.
Make Music Matter was invited to present the Healing in Harmony program at the Sustainable Impact Hub as part of the World Economic Forum. The week in Davos also featured the world premiere of My Body is Not a Weapon, a documentary film by Platon starring Make Music Matter partner Dr. Denis Mukwege and artists from our Healing in Harmony program at Panzi Hospital.
A new Healing in Harmony program in collaboration with the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation was launched in Conakry, Guinea, with local partners l’Association des victimes parents et amis du 28 septembre 2009 (AVIPA).
Learn more about SANAD.
In collaboration with the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation, new Healing in Harmony sites were launched with Golden Women Vision in Gulu, Uganda, and SESHHA (Survivors’ Empowerment for Self-sustainability and Holistic Healing in Africa) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
In partnership with World Vision Peru, a new Healing in Harmony site was launched in Trujillo, Peru, targeting young Venezuelan refugees and other at-risk youth.
In partnership with SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada), A4A Publishing (a sister company to A4A Records in collaboration with Warner Music Canada) is established to ensure that royalties are paid to all songwriters living in conflict zones and extreme poverty, whether or not they have legal identification by typical western standards.
As part of the Equality for Girls’ Access to Learning (EGAL) grant, and in collaboration with World Vision Canada, Healing in Harmony expands to Kasai, DRC, empowering vulnerable young women to speak out for their right to education.
Make Music Matter is awarded funding by the Fund for Innovation and Transformation to expand the Healing in Harmony program in Mulamba, DRC. A new gender transformative approach invites men and boys to participate in the program, engaging and empowering them in efforts to advance gender equality.
Impact of the Healing in Harmony program on women’s mental health in a rural area in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo is published in the journal Global Mental Health via Cambridge University Press, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program in reducing PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The research also showed the improvements in mental health were sustained up to 6 months post completion of the program despite instability in the region and evidence of continued experience of conflict-related trauma during the study.
Make Music Matter is awarded funding by the Global Mental Health program to develop a mobile Healing in Harmony studio in the DRC, with the aim to reach youth in remote locations who would otherwise not have access to mental health services.
With funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada, MMM joins forces with Aboriginal Legal Services to deliver tailored support to survivors of gender-based violence and address the intergenerational trauma they have experienced.
The ‘Culture to Wellness: Reimagining Holistic Healing Approaches for Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People’ project marks a milestone for MMM as they bring the Healing in Harmony model home to Canada in a formal partnership for the first time.
With support from the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund and the National Music Centre in Calgary, Kehewin Native Dance Theatre and MMM develop new arts-based programming based on the Healing in Harmony model to help address the mental health crisis in Kehewin Cree Nation and surrounding communities.
As founder of Make Music Matter, Darcy Ataman has dedicated his work to bringing an alternate form of music therapy to survivors of conflict and trauma. He developed the innovative Healing in Harmony program in partnership with Nobel laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege and continues to scale the innovation that has served over 14,000 individuals in 9 countries around the world.
Ataman graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He has worked internationally as a music producer, collaborating with countless artists and engineers, including Shelly Yakus, Levon Helm, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, resulting in several Juno nominations. In 2019, Ataman co-founded A4A Records and Publishing with legendary producer David Bottrill, creating a groundbreaking publishing model for artists living in extreme poverty and conflict zones.
As a music and video producer by trade, Ataman continues to collaborate with creatives around the world, including a continued partnership with celebrated producer and photographer Platon and The People’s Portfolio, for whom he completed the score for the documentary film ‘My Body is Not a Weapon’.
In February 2023, Ataman unveiled the short film ’Ukrainian Artists United’ at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The project he co-created showcases 11 artists in Lviv and their experience living through war. The launch event on the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion would become the most successful exhibit launch in the museum’s history.
Ataman was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross in July 2020 by the Governor General of Canada for his outstanding humanitarian work. In July 2022, he received the Order of Manitoba for his dedication to enriching the lives of vulnerable populations in conflict and post-conflict zones. Ataman was awarded the Platinum Jubilee Medal for Manitoba in April 2023 in recognition of his contribution to the province.
A contributor to the Huffington Post and various other publications, Ataman has also been a guest lecturer at Oxford, the University of Winnipeg, and a range of international events, speaking to the long-lasting impact of music and its ability to re-stitch the soul.
Photo by Platon for The People’s Portfolio and Dr. Denis Mukwege
Justin Ruboneka Cikuru has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Daystar University in Nairobi. He began working as a therapist at Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2015, at which time he partnered with Make Music Matter to implement their Healing in Harmony program for survivors of sexual violence.
Justin is currently Lead Therapist and Trainer for the program and has been very influential in developing and documenting the model around the world. Justin is very skilled in his trade, empathetic, and dedicated to his work. He currently resides in Bukavu with his wife and three children.
Photo by Platon for The People’s Portfolio and Dr. Denis Mukwege
As a self-taught music producer, Georges has worked in the field since 2003. Sharing his creativity, he has helped young musicians and other groups have their voices heard in environments where it is a challenge to be accepted.
In 2012, Georges pursued studies online following the musical production techniques of Olivier Bessaignet. Passionate and hardworking, he strives to produce work of the highest quality.
Georges met Darcy Ataman in 2015 and under his guidance has continued to perfect his craft. Based in Bukavu, DRC, he has since worked as Lead Producer for the Healing in Harmony program, leading training and overseeing the work of local music producers at various sites.
Beyond his love for music, Georges holds a diploma in agricultural engineering from l’Universite catholique de Bukavu – studies that he credits with giving him an aptitude for leading projects, taking initiatives, and seeing them through to reach successful outcomes.
Damião is a graduate of the Audio Production & Engineering at Metalworks Institute of Sound & Music Production. He plays a key role on the Make Music Matter team, liaising between the local music producers at the Healing in Harmony sites and the A4A publishing company. He is also responsible for maintaining the A4A Records music library in partnership with Warner Music Canada.
Rebecca has been a part of the Make Music Matter team from the beginning, as a volunteer and Board member. She brings a passion for music, collaboration, and all things at the intersection of the arts and positive change.
With a degree in political science from the University of Toronto, Rebecca has studied, worked, and volunteered in England and France, always seeking ways to help build a stronger global community. She has varied professional experience in the fields of non-profit communications, localization for film and tv, and industry marketing in the world of animation and visual effects.
Léda is an accomplished music industry professional based in Montreal. With a Master of Arts in Music Business from NYU and a dynamic career spanning 7 years, she has gained extensive international experience working for Sony Music in both New York and London.
Her expertise and passion for the music industry have allowed her to embark on an entrepreneurial endeavor at the intersection of music business and education, creating innovative initiatives and finding new ways to make a positive impact on the industry.
David is a three-time Grammy Award winning producer and has had over 15 million copies of his work sold worldwide. He has worked with a diverse spectrum of prolific artists such as Peter Gabriel, Kid Rock, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Muse, Silverchair, King Crimson, and Rush. David has also worked with some of the most influential world musicians, notably Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal of Senegal, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan of Pakistan.
David spent 20 years living in the UK, followed by a term in New York, but has settled back in Toronto, Canada, where he has a mixing studio. Even still, David spends much of his time working in the US and abroad.
Since 2009, David has sat on the Board of Directors for Make Music Matter. Through Make Music Matter, David has found an outlet for his experience, truly helping better the lives of others and bringing awareness to the community at large.
Jaime is a registered professional counsellor with over 10 years experience in helping people overcome their personal and professional challenges. Jaime joined the Make Music Matter team in 2009 after working as a project manager for a youth empowerment program in South Africa. Jaime wrote ‘Music and the Millennium Development Goals’ as a basis for promoting the use of music within the international development arena. She is passionate about utilizing the artistic process to allow people to heal themselves by telling their own stories, in their own words.
Stuart is a freelance charity finance expert, currently helping to set up the operations and governance at The Trinity Challenge. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Stuart brings financial and operational experience from several international charities.
Stuart was Finance Director at ClientEarth, an international charity using the power of law to prevent environmental degradation, and helped set up Elrha as a separate charity as it span out from Save the Children UK. He has held roles at VSO and Amnesty International, and also has extensive experience in the private sector. Stuart is Treasurer at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, a charity that supports campaigners, and a trustee on the UK board of Field Ready, an international charity disrupting the paradigms of humanitarian supply chains.
Stuart holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Imperial College, London and is an Associate of the Royal College of Science.
Dave is a 35 year veteran of the Canadian professional audio industry. Over that period of time, he worked as National Sales Manager at Studer Canada, President of HHB Communications Canada, and is currently Director of Sales at YSL Pro. For over 10 years Dave sat on the Board of the Music Industry Association of Canada (MIAC). He was one of the few key individuals that introduced hard disc based digital audio recording to the Canadian market and remains on the cutting edge of Professional audio technology.
Dave is a native of Toronto and has a studio in the city’s East End. He is a long time musician and is a band member of UIC. UIC have two albums out on Warner Music Canada, with a third about to be released. Dave has been a long time technology supplier to Make Music Matter, and is very excited to be joining the MMM Board.
Whitney is a corporate management consultant, with over 7+ years of experience advising senior leadership at organizations across Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, and the United States. She brings a wide array of expertise across business strategy, digital transformation, operating model design & enablement, as well as branding, change & communications.
Whitney grew up in Toronto, and moved abroad to Hong Kong, where she spent over 5 years working but has since settled back home in Toronto. She is a classically trained pianist and violinist, and spent most of her childhood performing and competing across Canada. She is also an associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Whitney holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of Toronto.
Adriano Mollica MD is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in music therapy. He worked as a music therapist for several years before transitioning to medicine, inspired by a fascination with the effects of music on the brain in individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Mollica completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Toronto, where he is now completing a fellowship in Brain Medicine. His clinical focus is in neuropsychiatry, with research interests in conditions such as concussion and TBI, functional neurological disorder, neuromodulation, music-based therapies, and the placebo effect. He also maintains an interest in exploring the application of music-based interventions for brain health in neuropsychiatric conditions.
In addition to his academic and clinical work, Dr. Mollica is an independent musician performing under the artist name The Adriatic. His creative work reflects his belief in the transformative power of music to heal, connect, and inspire.