On Dec 15th 2011, in the midst of a bunch of holiday cheer and festivities as well as the usual mall clogging shopping extravaganza Americans are famous for even in these last days of austerity, the first of hopefully a series of Reach Out Live events took place at The Middle East Club (Downstairs), in Boston MA.

Reach Out Cameroon is a woman and youth centered organization operating in the South West Province of Cameroon. Created in 1996, the organization obtained its legal status in the year 2000 with registration No. 082/G.37/D14/Vol. 6/OAPP/69 of 7th December 2000.
Reach Out was founded by a group of Medical Doctors, Gender Analysts, Social Workers, Nurses, Community Relay Agents and Agronomists who are concerned with the plight of the rural masses, especially those in the hard-to-reach areas, also known as minority groups such as widows, single mothers, displaced women and their families, girl children who are dropouts from schools, orphans and vulnerable children, and HIV/AIDS infected persons.
The entire body of Reach Out strives to ensure that women and youths can build better lives for themselves and their families so as to eradicate major issues affecting their lives such as HIV/AIDS

Reach Out 2011 was a concert presenting several New England and Africa top Reggae/Ska/Techno/Rock/Hip Hop artists coming together in support of orphans and women affected by AIDS in Cameroon Africa. The concert was sponsored and organized by a group of Oracle employees from the New England (Boston) area inspired by one of their ex-coworker from Costa Rica Yanin Rodriguez who had decided to go live in Cameroon for 1 year to volunteer with an organization called Reach Out Cameroon.

After talking with Yanin via Facebook and on the phone, Bruno Simonet known as well as Anguile of Anguile & The High Steppers, an Oracle employee and international reggae artist who played the Montreal Jazz festival in 2008, decided to ask his co-workers if they would like to put together a benefit concert for Yanin and the organization Reach Out. Several individuals agreed right away and with the complete support of their management and co-workers they asked The Middle East club in Cambridge if they would like to host the event at their downstairs facility. The club liked the idea of a holiday benefit that would give back to the community and it was decided pretty quick to have the event there.

Shortly after Anguile asked his backing band in 2011 the Satellite Rockers if they would like to do the event with him and share a 90 minute set together. DDO - Doctor Doom Orchestra's Pete was contacted shortly after and accepted to join us, and so did FNB - Fear Nuttin Band. Another local known musician DJ Nailz (also form Oracle) joined the party followed shortly after by DJ Thomas. The night would be complete with multiple genres of reggae/ska with flavors of Techno, Hip Hop and Funk.

Not only was the night an awesome musical fete with all the bands performing incredibly well. The crowd of 350 or so Bostonians was jamming and dancing away from the beginning of the festivities. But as well, 2 proud US Marines from the Toys for Tots organization joined in the festivities. Oracle's employee in Boston had donated something like 300+ unwrapped toys that day for kids in the Boston area. Our honored guest even passed around a bucket for additional donations for the Reach Out Cameroon and the kids at the AIDS orphanage in BUEA. They had a good time and everyone made sure of that. There was a spirit of unity and peace in the place; it was an awesome Christmas/Holiday party.

All the bands and the club and anyone involved that night donated something toward the charity. If you include the money that was raised prior to the night online via the promotion of the event to Oracle's 1000+ employees in Boston - the event was a total success bringing in around $3500 in donations, with a potential extra $1000+ of matching funds that will be donated 1 month later by Oracle directly to the organization, as each employee who donated money can claim a matching gift for Reach Out Cameroon (via Global Giving Org).

Bob Marley would have been proud and so would Gandhi or Martin Luther King that night as everyone led their weapons down (virtually and in reality) to enjoy an evening of peace to bring hope to kids and young women in Cameroon who have been impacted negatively by AIDS.

The night was the beginning of something special. Yanin and Bruno have decided to start Reach Out Live an organization to help raise money for NGO's like Reach Out Cameroon around the world with a focus on Africa. You will find more info on Reach Out Live website www.reachoutlive.org , and for more information on supporting Reach Out Cameroon visit their site http://www.reachoutcameroon.org/ or via the Global Giving website http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/make-an-impact-girls-education-cameroon/?rf=ggWidget

The DVD from the night as well as a special limited downloadable CD from Anguile and some of the artists performing that night will be available shortly on www.reachoutlive.org - Check the site as well for updates and info on their future events, projects and NGO's they are supporting as well as the musicians and artist / athlete who are supporting the good work being done for kids in Africa.

In the meanwhile you can check out the videos on YouTube on Anguile's YouTube channel.   

Here are some links to Anguile's web page www.anguile.com and Yanin Rodriguez Blog http://africathrume.blogspot.com/ 

Thanks to all the bands and sponsors for the night.

BUT ESPECIALLY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED US AND GAVE OUT OF YOUR LOVE FOR AFRICAN KIDS AND CHILDREN IN GENERAL IN A TRUE SPIRIT OF GIVING - Jah bless