Live4MusiC

By ewenboey 

Normally seen entertaining crowds in the local music scene, Jack Ho and Rai Kannu, also known asJack and Rai, are using their fame to appeal for support of a greater cause.

The musical act, who are goodwill ambassadors of World Vision Singapore, want to highlight the importance of the 30 hour Famine Camp to be held this year on 18 and 19 June.

At the camp, participating youths will go 30 hours without food and join in activities designed to replicate the experiences of people living in impoverished communities. The event aims to help the youth understand the challenges faced by those less privileged.

Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore, Rai said he and Jack appreciate how hard some people's lives may be. "We're not the richest people in the world, but we're definitely better off than somebody else," he noted.

The popular local artistes, who started out performing cover songs but have developed into accomplished singer-songwriters, have been working with World Vision for the past four years. They said that they chose to align themselves with the non-governmental organisation (NGO) due to its credibility, as well as its philosophy of helping communities become self-sufficient rather than reliant on dole-outs.

The duo began their relationship with the group seven years ago when they performed for its famine camp concert. Helping out at the camp annually thereafter, they became ambassadors in 2007.

"Going down for the famine camp, we saw for ourselves what the kids go through and what World Vision tries to instill in the young of today," said Jack.

Creative expression

The duo, who are targeting the release of their new album early next year, also told of their experiences with the organisation, one of which was a trip to rural Vietnam in November last year to visit two different communities supported by the NGO.

"We saw one area that World Vision has already helped for a certain number of years, and another where they were going to help. We could really see the difference between the two communities," noted Jack.

He also excitedly added that it was through this trip that the two of them became the sponsors of a child from one of the villages.

As World Vision goodwill ambassadors, Jack and Rai choose to be humble about their roles and they believe that charity should not be forced down people's throats.

"We don't go out there and throw our fists in the air and say 'come on everybody'. We like to spread the word among the masses in our own way, and just make people feel comfortable about doing it," explained Rai.

Jack added, "If there are a million people like us, then a million other people benefit. It's like paying it forward and spreading the word. It doesn't take much to help, but if everybody just does a little bit, it goes a long way."