About This Project
The young people of Integrate have launched their new music video featuring members of the public, politicians and celebrities. The video is part of the young people’s national campaign to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and promote gender equality.
The Young People of Integrate have a simple ask – to introduce education around gender based violence in schools.
Integrate premiered ‘Use Your Head’ on the 20th June at Bristol City Hall. The young people who have been taking Bristol, the UK and even the world by storm, will be launching an epic music video for their new energetic campaign song – “we hope this will make people sit up, listen and take action.” (Fahma Mohamed, Integrate Junior Trustee)
‘Use Your Head’ is the title of the song and the music video features people dancing and singing along to show their support for the cause to end violence against women and girls (VAWG). Politicians and Ministers including Jane Ellison, Minister for Public Health, Stephen Williams, Minister for Communities, Lynne Featherstone, Minister for International Development and Bristol’s elected Mayor, George Ferguson all feature in the video. Other famous people include the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Bristol Magnum photographer Martin Parr and Northern Soul dancer and YouTube star Levanna McLean.
What can I do to help the cause?
Please share #useyourhead on social media with ten of your friends and ask them to share it with 10 in turn.
“It was important for us to feature famous individuals as well as members of the public to show the range of people willing to give their time and energy to contribute to the young people’s message.” (Oliver Zimmermann, director of the music video)
The video also features a vibrant array of characters, including break-dancers, the kebab sellers from Easton Take-Away, a lollipop man, members of the Women’s Institute, the owner of Solanki Stores in Windmill Hill, the Victoria Park Bowling Club, a police woman on her horse and many more.
Rising YouTube star Naz Ahmed, also known as ‘itsthatnazchick’, features prominently in ‘Use Your Head’ and delivers the main campaign message with a feisty performance.
“We really want this video to go viral – the more people that watch it and share it the better. A lot of hard work has gone into it and we all really came together and enjoyed ourselves.”
(Naz Ahmed, Integrate young person and rapper in the music video)
How do I get involved and show my support?
You can do a few things. Definitely share this video everywhere you can. Please post comments under the video on YouTube. But also join us by posting a #useyourhead selfie – by pointing to your head. Check out our Facbook page to see how.
Earlier in the year, the young people of Integrate created a song called ‘Buckle Up’ that became part of the ‘Fahma Campaign’, and from that point on seeing girls on the front page of national newspapers became the norm. ‘Buckle Up’ was promoted by the Guardian, change.org and Upworthy and became the anthem of the charity’s 2014 ‘Fahma Campaign’ against female genital mutilation (FGM).
Various high profile figures, including fellow women’s right campaigner Malala Yousafzai, who met with Integrate campaigner and young spokesperson Muna Hassan, publicly declared her unwavering support for Fahma’s campaign. Most notably, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, who reinforced Fahma’s call to use education as the tool for change, vehemently supported Fahma’s campaign and met with her to discuss the Integrate approach to tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) head-on.
Along with the exciting launch of Integrate’s new campaign song ‘Use Your Head’ this year, two of the young women from the charity are also involved in the organisation of the Youth Summit hosted by the Department of International Development in July 2014.
The courage, determination and eloquence of these young people continues to mesmerise the British public and increasingly, people are listening to their passionate voices. The release of their new music video ‘Use Your Head’ will launch the charity’s 2014 campaign for education on gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation (FGM), to be introduced in all UK schools.
The music video will be available on YouTube and the single will be available for free download on iTunes very soon.
I have done the #useyourhead selfie and shared the video with everyone everywhere? I want to do more!
Promoting #UseYourHead and sharing the video on social media is a great way to show your support. If you want to do more then post video response on our YouTube channel. Any kind of head dancing to the song would be amazing.
The music video was produced by Zed Productions and the song was co-written by Rosina Buck and Naela Rose, in collaboration with the young people of Integrate.