#TGA The General Army project 2017
Donation protected
In honour of Kudakwashe Pwiti AKA Di Apprentice – The African General - #TGA The General Army project was created to help raise awareness about the link between Drug addiction, mental health disorders and suicide, while actively engaging in projects, and events that utilise prevention as the most powerful step toward a positive change that can save lives.
#TGA was founded by Kuda’s wife Catherine Pwiti, and twin sister Tinashe Pwiti, after Kuda’s tragic suicide on January 5th 2016. Kuda’s struggle with mental illness began at an early age, but having been raised in Zimbabwe - a country where mental illness is unrecognised Kuda’s only outlet for relief from his inner turmoil was to engage in self-medicating drug use. Unable to deal with the idea of mental illness himself, drugs continued to be his coping strategy throughout his early adult life, which gradually worsened as his drug of choice shifted from marijuana to ICE, and lead to a spiralling decline as his mental health issues intensified and his behaviour became increasing destructive and dangerous to himself and to those closest to him. At only 27 years of age, with a four year old son, Cristiano, and a promising career ahead of him as a rising international Dancehall/Zim Dancehall star, Kuda – while under the influence of methamphetamine, made the final decision to end his life.
In the aftermath of his death it is true that we will never know why Kuda, along with so many others make the defining decision to end their lives. What we can do, though – as survivors of suicide – is unite together to help prevent this happening to other precious lives and tackle the undeniable combination of factors that result in these tragedies. The multifaceted layers of social and cultural stigma, a lack of education and under resourced system enable to cope with this growing problem, undiagnosed/misdiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders, and self-medicating substance abuse, that all lead to Kuda’s senseless death.
To date we have initiated a number of activities to raise awareness and prevent such negative life choices including our #TGA Takeover - public dance performances and mentorship through dance; Real Man Talk - a monthly session for men to come together and 'Talk'; and our #TGA facebook group where people have the space to talk and share ideas about the issues of drug abuse, mental health, and suicide.
In 2017 our aim is to initiate three key programs across Australia, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe to achieve our three main goals for #TGA which are to:
1) Raise awareness about the link between drug abuse, mental health, and suicide
2) Prevent young people from using illicit drugs such as methamphetamine (ICE/Crystal meth) that can destroy their future and,
3) To promote social unity and individual holistic health and healing through engaging in dance, music, and cultural activities.
The programs we are raising funds for in 2017 are:
1) #TGA Dance – Utilising dance as our medium we will engage young people of diverse backgrounds in workshops, mentoring, and performance outcomes that aim to prevent at risk behaviour and encourage holistic health and community engagement, as well as the development of leadership skills to encourage participants to become positive role models for their peers. These workshops will be delivered in Australia, Jamaica, and African countries – with a focus on Zimbabwe. The link between these destinations is to continue Kuda’s legacy and the reason we are focusing our efforts here is to address the complex layers of social and cultural issues faced by young people of African descent – across the African diaspora - that lead Kuda to his tragic and senseless end. Through his story we hope to help others from similar backgrounds overcome the barriers they face, while becoming positive role models for their broader community and spreading the message of what it is to be a 'Real Friend’ through dance
2) #TGA Music – Utilising Kuda’s massive catalogue of unreleased music we will release an album to share his story and raise awareness about the devastating effects of self-medicating drug abuse and the need for men to speak out and start talking about mental health and what it means to be a positive male role model in our world today.
3) #TGA Culture – To make change we need to start the conversation and understand the past to create a better tomorrow. In 2017 our ‘Real Man Talk’ program will focus on creating support groups for young boys, and families who have experienced trauma due to drug abuse, domestic violence, and/or suicide. These sessions will be facilitated by professionals and will include a variety of therapies with focus on dance, music and art therapy to address the after effect of having lost a loved one to suicide and/or experiencing trauma at the hands of a loved one. As well as teaching the next generation of men and women how to express their emotions positively and effectively without having to mask them or project negative behaviour onto ourselves or those around us.
The more money raised the more wider our reach and the more individuals and communities we can support. Help us to dance a new dance, sing a new song, break the chains and stand together. Kuda's legacy is to teach us that pure love and a pure heart is what we need to value more then wealth, more than material status. Together we can make a change for the next generation and stand together as 'Real Friends' - Let us shine together as The General Army #TGA
#TGA was founded by Kuda’s wife Catherine Pwiti, and twin sister Tinashe Pwiti, after Kuda’s tragic suicide on January 5th 2016. Kuda’s struggle with mental illness began at an early age, but having been raised in Zimbabwe - a country where mental illness is unrecognised Kuda’s only outlet for relief from his inner turmoil was to engage in self-medicating drug use. Unable to deal with the idea of mental illness himself, drugs continued to be his coping strategy throughout his early adult life, which gradually worsened as his drug of choice shifted from marijuana to ICE, and lead to a spiralling decline as his mental health issues intensified and his behaviour became increasing destructive and dangerous to himself and to those closest to him. At only 27 years of age, with a four year old son, Cristiano, and a promising career ahead of him as a rising international Dancehall/Zim Dancehall star, Kuda – while under the influence of methamphetamine, made the final decision to end his life.
In the aftermath of his death it is true that we will never know why Kuda, along with so many others make the defining decision to end their lives. What we can do, though – as survivors of suicide – is unite together to help prevent this happening to other precious lives and tackle the undeniable combination of factors that result in these tragedies. The multifaceted layers of social and cultural stigma, a lack of education and under resourced system enable to cope with this growing problem, undiagnosed/misdiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders, and self-medicating substance abuse, that all lead to Kuda’s senseless death.
To date we have initiated a number of activities to raise awareness and prevent such negative life choices including our #TGA Takeover - public dance performances and mentorship through dance; Real Man Talk - a monthly session for men to come together and 'Talk'; and our #TGA facebook group where people have the space to talk and share ideas about the issues of drug abuse, mental health, and suicide.
In 2017 our aim is to initiate three key programs across Australia, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe to achieve our three main goals for #TGA which are to:
1) Raise awareness about the link between drug abuse, mental health, and suicide
2) Prevent young people from using illicit drugs such as methamphetamine (ICE/Crystal meth) that can destroy their future and,
3) To promote social unity and individual holistic health and healing through engaging in dance, music, and cultural activities.
The programs we are raising funds for in 2017 are:
1) #TGA Dance – Utilising dance as our medium we will engage young people of diverse backgrounds in workshops, mentoring, and performance outcomes that aim to prevent at risk behaviour and encourage holistic health and community engagement, as well as the development of leadership skills to encourage participants to become positive role models for their peers. These workshops will be delivered in Australia, Jamaica, and African countries – with a focus on Zimbabwe. The link between these destinations is to continue Kuda’s legacy and the reason we are focusing our efforts here is to address the complex layers of social and cultural issues faced by young people of African descent – across the African diaspora - that lead Kuda to his tragic and senseless end. Through his story we hope to help others from similar backgrounds overcome the barriers they face, while becoming positive role models for their broader community and spreading the message of what it is to be a 'Real Friend’ through dance
2) #TGA Music – Utilising Kuda’s massive catalogue of unreleased music we will release an album to share his story and raise awareness about the devastating effects of self-medicating drug abuse and the need for men to speak out and start talking about mental health and what it means to be a positive male role model in our world today.
3) #TGA Culture – To make change we need to start the conversation and understand the past to create a better tomorrow. In 2017 our ‘Real Man Talk’ program will focus on creating support groups for young boys, and families who have experienced trauma due to drug abuse, domestic violence, and/or suicide. These sessions will be facilitated by professionals and will include a variety of therapies with focus on dance, music and art therapy to address the after effect of having lost a loved one to suicide and/or experiencing trauma at the hands of a loved one. As well as teaching the next generation of men and women how to express their emotions positively and effectively without having to mask them or project negative behaviour onto ourselves or those around us.
The more money raised the more wider our reach and the more individuals and communities we can support. Help us to dance a new dance, sing a new song, break the chains and stand together. Kuda's legacy is to teach us that pure love and a pure heart is what we need to value more then wealth, more than material status. Together we can make a change for the next generation and stand together as 'Real Friends' - Let us shine together as The General Army #TGA
Organizer
Cat Pwiti
Organizer
Brunswick VIC
