Bazilo School in Haiti

We are starting a drive to send computers to the Bazilo School in Haiti. The children at the school need to have access to today's technologies for them to have a chance in this wired world.
We are trying to send laptops as they are easier to transport and run on batteries, and electricity still tends to come and go in Port au-Prince. We also are starting a drive to buy Bazilo a generator.
SO: if you have an old laptop (Windows or Mac), preferably no more than 5 or 6 years old so it will run most current applications, we ask you to send them to us, we will then send them in bulk to Bazilo. Email bazilo@buckyballmusic.com and we will arrange the shipping/pick-up with you.

We would like to emphasize that your data, if any is left on you Hard Drive would be safe we would format the drive seven time, before sending it. You can also send us the laptop without the Hard Drive

The money we raised has been delivered to the school.

Stay tuned we are going to update this page with videos and pictures.

Buckyball Music's Benefit and CD Release Party for the Bazilo School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti was a success! We raised close to $800.
View the videos of the performances given the night of the benefit, where the performers gave their time and talents for the cause.
For those who could not attend the event, but would like to make a donation ($5, $10, $15, or more- any amount would help) you can send a check written to Buckyball Music, Inc., P.O. Box 2034, NYC 10101
with "Bazilo School" written in the memo line.

We thank you, and the kids thank you!

Whatch the PBS show: Black in Latin America
Henry Louis Gates hosts a repeating program which tells this seldom heard story. It confirms the seminal importance of music and its African roots in the Latin American culture. The first show is about The Dominican Republic and Haiti, with a short segment featuring Zao Ak Djakata, who is (coincidentally) the co-director of the Bazilo school! You can also view the whole show.

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Play this video to see the fruits of the money raised during the benefit

VIDEOS OF PERFORMANCES AT THE MAY 22nd BENEFIT

Jake Hertzog Georgia - Not Blues Medley	Sarah Pillow sings 'Spain' with the LHI jazz ensemble & Van Manakas
Marc's performs music from his new CD	Marc's Kids Percussion Ensemble at the Bazilo benefit part II
Film of a visit by François Desravine to the Bazilo School	Short film made about the school by the "Save the Children Foundation"

HOW THIS BENEFIT CAME ABOUT

When the earthquake shattered the town of Port-au-Prince, it rendered many people who were of modest means even closer to disaster.

Buckyball Music learned about the Bazilo School through one of Marc Wagnon's drum students, Francois DesRavines, who lost family members and houses in Port-au-Prince. Although he is blind, he went to Haiti and brought help in the form of free meals to the students at the school. Upon returning, he brought back some pictures and short videos of his trip. After seeing them, we were inspired to help the school.

The school was founded by singer/percussionist Zao Jakata, and part of his mission is to teach music alongside standard curriculum. But now, in this state of continuing emergency, the first necessity is to feed the needy kids who attend the school. This also serves as a way to attract kids to the school so they can continue to be educated as their country rebuilds itself.

ALL profits from the benefit will go directly to the school, which includes the door donation as well as half of all proceeds from the sale of merchandise.

Marc Wagnon's CD release, Earth is Cruel Master, was scheduled on that day, and while the title is eerily relevant, it is meant to draw attention more to human made disasters than those coming from nature. The evening presents an opportunity to demonstrate that we should think of the Earth as a spaceship with limited resources that need to be managed (Buckminster Fuller first said), and this kind of natural disaster is a reminder of its might.