The Rap School of Life – A Cultural Exchange for Healing Through Hip Hop
In today’s fast-paced and often challenging world, creative arts have become an increasingly powerful way to engage with marginalised communities. The Rap School of Life, a unique cultural exchange between three organisations in the UK and Germany, is a project that embodies this ethos. By using music—specifically Hip Hop—as a tool for emotional healing and empowerment, this initiative aims to help communities facing trauma and hardship express themselves more effectively whilst also building the capacity of community arts-based practitioners.
Healing Through Creative Expression
The Rap School of Life is a collaboration between Hip Hop Heals (Birmingham), Forward Ever (London), and Kanzi (Berlin). Each organisation has a rich history of working with marginalised communities, using music to engage people who may otherwise feel overlooked or voiceless.
The project’s main goal is to share techniques and practices across the three organisations to develop individual skill sets and broaden the services offered to different community groups. This exchange allows practitioners to upskill and deepen their understanding of trauma-informed approaches, language barriers, and the healing power of music, particularly Hip Hop.
At its core, this initiative serves to benefit four key groups:
- The representatives of the three organisations involved, who learn from each other’s work through collaborative support and observation.
- Young refugees and children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Berlin.
- Homeless individuals in Birmingham.
- Community Arts-Based Practitioners who can enhance their knowledge, skills, and ability to support individuals experiencing trauma.
How It All Started
The project was born out of shared experiences and connections. Kiran Manley (Kiz), the CEO of Hip Hop Heals, founded the organisation following her own lived experience of using Hip Hop as an alternative therapy to manage trauma. This personal journey has become a driving force behind the work of Hip Hop Heals, which is dedicated to helping others explore their trauma through music.
Miles Brammer, a Social Work student from Berlin, came across Hip Hop Heals while in the UK and was so inspired by its work that he completed a placement there. This experience led to further collaborations between Miles, Kiz, and David Williams, CEO of Forward Ever. When Miles encountered a grant for an international cultural exchange, he suggested the trio apply—and thus, the Rap School of Life was born.
Impact and Early Success
One of the most powerful aspects of the Rap School of Life is its potential to create long-lasting change. By broadening the skill sets within each organisation, this project empowers community practitioners to support individuals with trauma more effectively. Early successes include:
- The development of a Trauma-Informed Approaches training programme for arts-based practitioners in both the UK and Germany.
- Successful delivery of half the training programme.
- A series of workshops delivered to young refugees in Berlin, along with an event to raise funds for homeless women.
The project has also had a positive impact on emotional wellbeing, resilience, and confidence, both for service users and for the practitioners themselves. There are already stories of individuals who have benefited from these workshops, using Hip Hop to break down language barriers and explore their own experiences in ways they never thought possible.
Teamwork and Overcoming Challenges
The team behind the Rap School of Life includes Kiran Manley (Hip Hop Heals), Miles Brammer (Kanzi), Kofi (CEO of Kanzi), and David Williams (Forward Ever). Together, they have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the project, holding regular online planning sessions, delegating tasks, and sharing resources across organisations.
While the project has been largely successful, it has not been without challenges. Minor language barriers and the time difference between the UK and Germany required careful coordination. The most significant challenge, however, has been safeguarding everyone’s emotional wellbeing. Given that many of the arts-based practitioners have their own lived experiences of trauma, emotional regulation has been a key focus throughout the project.
What’s Next?
The project is currently at a pivotal stage, having completed half of the training programme and laid a solid foundation for future growth. In the coming months, the team plans to deliver more workshops, continue building connections with arts-based practitioners in both countries, and expand their approach to helping marginalised communities express themselves through music.
One of the most exciting prospects is the potential for the Trauma-Informed Approaches training to be made available online to a wider audience of arts-based practitioners. This would allow even more professionals to benefit from the insights and techniques developed during the Rap School of Life project.
Get Involved
If you’re a community arts practitioner or someone interested in supporting individuals through creative means, this project could be invaluable for you. Keep an eye on Hip Hop Heals, Forward Ever, and Kanzi’s social media channels for updates on the availability of the online training programme.
For those looking to stay engaged with the progress of the Rap School of Life, following these organisations on social media is the best way to stay updated on upcoming events, workshops, and success stories.
The Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, the Rap School of Life aims to equip as many arts-based practitioners as possible with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to best support individuals and communities grappling with trauma. Through the sharing of best practices and the ongoing exchange of ideas between the UK and Germany, this project hopes to raise the profile of alternative therapies, particularly the use of Hip Hop as a transformative tool.
Ultimately, the Rap School of Life is more than just a project—it’s a movement towards healing and empowerment through creativity, bringing people together across borders to foster resilience, connection, and hope.