Give a Guitar - Ignite a Life

Through partnerships with churches and other charities, talented individuals will be identified and helped to reach their potential.

"There is no greater poverty than the poverty of opportunity," said guitar guru Andy McGibbon, who started the campaign. "Nowhere is this more apparent than in the plight of underprivileged children, many of whom will tragically succumb to the lure of crime, drugs or other life-destroying activities," he added.

The first beneficiary

Prince Mhlanga, 22, from Thandanani House of Refuge in Zandspruit, was the first beneficiary of the project at its official launch last month.

"I am very blessed. I have been wanting to play the guitar since I was a little boy," said Prince after the handover. "This is going to change my life. I hope to play in a youth band some day."

Prince will also receive free guitar lessons from a guitar teacher who volunteered his services.

"If BB King had been born in South Africa, he probably would have been a gardener," said McGibbon. "This is the sort of tragedy we want to prevent from happening. Our job is to harvest these instruments by encouraging their owners to donate them to our campaign. In this way we sow the seeds of a passion that will transcend the circumstances these children and youths face."

To donate

McGibbon is asking the public to donate any unwanted guitars to the campaign by dropping them off at Andy McGibbon's Guitar World at the Homeworld Centre, corner of Malibongwe Drive and Rocky Street in Strydom Park.

The campaign also needs guitar teachers who are willing to donate some of their time.

If you can help, or for more information, please phone +27 (0)11 791 6887.