Akolkol Dastan Gesa
This program started in 2018 when 40 young participants from Aranmore Catholic College’s Intensive English Centre worked with a team of professional artists to create a music video. The team included producer/director Poppy van Oorde-Grainger, musician Scott “Optamus” Griffiths, dancer Rita Nita, writer David Vincent Smith, cinematographer Matsu and filmmaker Gemma Parsons.
The music video was released for Harmony Week 2018 and broadcast on national television, radio and online to an audience of 500K. The young people went on to perform their song at the 20,000 person State Of The Art festival and win a West Australian Song of the Year award and Best Micro Short award at the Social Justice Film Festival in USA. The project was supported by project partners Beyond Empathy, Aranmore Catholic College, DADAA and Community Arts Network and assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
We are currently running the 2025 version of the program in partnership with Aranmore Catholic College and assisted by Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Healthway promoting SEW Arts.
Credits
2018 Team
Juk Yuang Rapper / Lyricist
Rita Yousif Singer / Lyricist
Sota Kikuyama Beat-maker
Frank Mucho Rapper / Lyricist
Kalungila Lutombo Singer / Lyricist
Ahmed Shihab Rapper / Lyricist
Sara Hendi Drummer
Jack Rexx Drummer
Poppy van Oorde-Grainger Director / Producer
Scott Griffiths Music Facilitator
Matsu Director of Photography
Rita Nita Dance Facilitator
David Vincent Smith Story Consultant
Ella Wright Production Manager
Gemma Parsons Assistant Director
Scott Wakefield Assistant Camera
Ella Helmsley Production Assistant
Sandbox Post Production
Suzanne Worner Marketing and Distribution
Partners
Funders
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
2025 Team
Maria Vocalist / Lyricist
Cata Vocalist / Lyricist
Samuel Vocalist / Lyricist
Salsabil Vocalist / Lyricist / Storyteller
Areej Vocalist / Lyricist / Storyteller
Astabrak Vocalist / Lyricist / Storyteller
Lyna Vocalist / Lyricist
Julia Vocalist / Lyricist
Anthony Vocalist / Lyricist
Sebastian Vocalist
Linda Storyteller
Ahmed Writer / Devisor
Somaya Storyteller
Sumaya Storyteller
Poppy van Oorde-Grainger Lead Facilitator / Producer
Rita Yousif Mentee Facilitator / Singer
Paul Hayes and Eduardo Cossio Music Facilitators
Mwaba Mubanga Dance Facilitator
Mararo Wangai Devising Facilitator
Tim Fitzgerald Director of Photography
Leilani Ngeru-Hall and Kalhari Rajapaksha Volunteers
Partners
Healthway promoting SEW Arts
Funders
