Hands Percussion Overview

               The ‘Balik Kampung’ projects are an extension of the drumming camps where HANDS brings the 24 Festive Drumming culture to the kampung where the children there do not have the opportunity to enjoy and experience the performing arts. Hence, HANDS takes drumming to them at these workshops. And bring HANDS members back to the kampung, to simple village life and to be reminded as well as enjoy our cultural heritage.

               In December 2009, the first ‘Balik Kampung’ trip was to Sekinchan, in north Selangor. It was a one day workshop with
both secondary and primary school students. Besides drumming, HANDS also taught them to make their own instruments by recycling everyday objects like dustbin covers and bottles. Flags were drawn and coloured and at the end of the day, everyone from parents to children joined in a street parade with HANDS, playing the ‘instruments’ and anything else that would make a noise – it was a bit like STOMP!

               The second ‘Balik Kampung’ trip was to Sabah between 28 May-1 June 2010 where they covered 6 towns, from the west coast to the east coast - Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Tampruli, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan and Sandakan! It was the perfect time to visit the villages as it was Keamatan and they tasted traditional hospitality at its best! The children loved the drumming and their 3 main objectives were achieved:
•Interaction with the Kadazan-Dusun and Murut communities;
•Introducing drumming to them; and
•Learning more about each others’ culture

               HANDS third ‘Balik Kampung’ trip was in May 2011 to Boyz Chew’s (HANDS 1) hometown in Selama, Perak. The one day workshop attracted children and teachers from 5 different primary schools and there was a crowd of about 200! What a street parade it was! So far, a grand total of 9 such trips have been made, all a resounding success and the details are:  
4) 25 June 2011 - Pertang, Negeri Sembilan
5) 1 Oct 2011 - Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang
6) 7 Oct 2011 - Kuala Kemaman, Terengganu
7) 28 Oct 2011 - Pasir Parit, Kelantan
8) 9 Nov 2011 - Pulau Pangkor, Perak
9) 24 Nov 2011 - Kodiang, Kedah

April 2012 sees AMWAY Malaysia Sdn Bhd collaborating with HANDS with its third project under the company’s One By One Campaign, a community programme reaching out to children, called ‘Hands Pecussion Balik Kampung with Amway’! This will add another 5 kampungs to be covered.
10) 13 May 2012 - Bentong, Pahang