A Seawinds resident is using the drum to inspire children in his community and the surroundings to see music and instruments
differently.
Lloyd de Mink is working on a project to inspire learners and help them see an alternative to the streets and substance abuse through a project he calls Journey of the Drum.
“I have had this drum for over 20 years so you can just imagine the experience. The idea is to educate the children and encourage them to play musical instruments. I have noticed that from January to March it’s all about sports and schoolwork. Thereafter it’s just schoolwork and nothing much is done to make the kids relax. That is why I started this project. We can’t deny that the drum is key to the rhythm. It gets people to connect with one another and connect with their inner beings,” he says.
The idea is to empower learners and to educate them through drum playing. Since January De Mink has been to several schools and says the reception has been heart warming. “You can see by the way the children respond that they are hungry for the music. As much as they must focus on schoolwork, they also want something else to keep them busy. They really enjoy the sessions we have for them. The idea is not just to play the drum, put to open their minds and educate them on different things. We also encourage them to play any other instrument,” he says.
De Mink also runs a feeding scheme for learners. “We just don’t play the drum – we also give them something to eat.”
He adds that he is glad that things nowadays are different from the past.
“In the past it was all about hustling and getting a job. Now we have to open the minds of our children and let them see the world in a different way. We encourage them to do what they love.”
De Mink also sells and promotes his DVD.
“The DVD is mainly for parents. It helps them have conversations with their children and address certain issues. It also empowers parents. So far the journey has been amazing and we hope that a lot of people will see the vision we have.”
