By Curtis Campbell—-
Reggae artist Chuck Fenda is all set to start his non-profit charity organisation called The Poor People Defender Foundation.
The reggae artist says he has long spoken on behalf of people living below the poverty line through his music. However, in 2013 he wants to put action behind his lyrics.
Chuck Fenda was exposed to the music industry from the early ’90s as a dancehall artist. However, like Buju Banton, the artist later turned to reggae and now focuses on conscious messages, releasing songs like Gwaan Plant, Gash Dem, Real Man and I Swear, among others.
“I am somebody who has endured harsh situations before getting my break into the music industry in the ’90s, so I know how it feels to want things and can’t afford it. That is why when I do music it’s heartfelt because people can feel that my content is sincere. As the Poor People Defender, I always defend the rights of the poor, even when the positive message is not hot commercial, because somebody has to do it. But now mi just want to do more, so with this charity organisation that I am looking to start, I want to get more interactive with my people,” Chuck Fenda said of his upcoming charity initiative.
The artist says he decided to start the organisation after driving through downtown Kingston recently and seeing a flood of homeless persons on the streets.
“I have always given back whenever I am called upon, but I never really had a charity. But wah day ya mi a drive through downtown and mi see about 200 persons squatting on the streets, suh me a seh to miself, Jah know where is the Government? How come dem not paying attention to stuff like these? Suh mi decide seh mi a guh write a song about it. But when mi start write the song mi still nuh feel complete, is like one mind a seh yes wi preach about these things but Babylon not changing it. So I decided that I can personally play my little part to make a positive change,” he said.
The artist is also opening the platform for other music industry players and/or corporate entities to join his movement.
“One person can’t do the entire job that needs to be done, but one person can spark a movement. They have a little slang that says practise what you preach, and so as a man that is always preaching against injustice and poverty and pleading the cause of poor people, I am making that move to practise what I preach by giving back. So if other people who duh music want to join me please do so, and the business people too, because this affects every Jamaican. Mi know seh record nah sell again like one time. But if me give a little out of my little and you give a little out of your little, we can help somebody else to have little, instead of some people have a lot and some people don’t have none,” he said.
The Poor People Defender Foundation will cater to the homeless in and around the Corporate Area, with the hope of a gradual expansion to other parts of the island.
Other music industry players that have contributed to charity include Capleton, Tony Matterhorn, Tappa Zukie, Spragga Benz, Shaggy and Follow Di Arrow promoter Dexton Ennis.
Chuck Fenda recently performed at Manchester Awards where he delivered a strong set. Songs like Warning and It Hard are getting favourable attention at home and in Europe.
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