Mission:
Inspired to action by Jesus’ love, Ensigo partners with indigenous musicians and artists around the world to create innovative solutions that focus on meeting physical and spiritual needs in their communities.
Vision:
By deeply investing in and partnering with musicians and artists from countries in Africa & Latin America, we seek to embolden them to become the “ensigo” (seeds) of their nations’ next generation of leaders, who utilize:
1.) The compelling voice of music and art to transform their communities, nations and world.
2.) The economic potential of the creative industries to overcome poverty through job creation and income generation.
Guiding Questions:
Committed to honoring the dignity of every person and striving to do our small part to make the world more like God’s vision, these eight questions guide us:
1. Do we know, trust, and like the people we’re partnering with?
2. Are the plan, roles, and desired results clearly defined?
3. Are we building on strengths and successes–individual, organizational, and cultural?
4. Does everyone involved have a voice, with those impacted by the work valued most?
5. Are we communicating with integrity?
6. Are we discovering meaning and joy along the way?
7. Is love guiding us–God’s love for us and our love for our neighbors?
8. Are we allowing ourselves to be open to new people, new approaches, and new questions?
Who:
Ensigo was conceived by Aaron Appleton in 2006 after a powerful experience through staying with a Ugandan family in their village during a study abroad program. Immediately after graduating from Greenville College with a degree in Music Arts and International development, Appleton began pursuing his dream of starting Ensigo through various music focused development projects around the world.
In the 4 years since its inception, ensigo’s activities now encompass 6 developing countries and have expanded from recording benefit/collaboration albums to include musical training workshops (ethnomusicology/songwriting, studio recording, music business), and designing and building recording studios.
One of our main projects is the production of benefit album’s (in partnership with the Remix Artist Collective) that engage talented musicians from developing and developed nations in a collaborative effort. 100% of the profit made from the selling of these songs will go toward projects and grants focused on empowering creative talent in the various developing countries where we work as a way to overcome poverty through the development and growth of the creative industries.
Some of the musicians from developed countries who are currently contributing their talent to the project are:
Paper Route
RAC
Dan Haseltine
Charlie Peacock
Josh Garrels
The Champion & His Burning Flame
Mark Suhonen
Joseph Pfeifer
Andrew Maury
Brian Lee & His Orchestra
Crookram
Aaron Appleton
Ensigo In The Media:
Aaron interviewed on Central Wisconsin’s ABC channel about Ensigo and the benefit album Ensigo: East Africa In Binaural
Aaron interviewed on Belize’s national television channel (5), about a Kriol songwriting workshop he led in Belize on behalf of the National Kriol Council of Belize:
Article written in the Wausau Daily Herald about Aaron and some of Ensigo’s projects:
Article written by Matador Travel on Aaron Appleton and Ensigo projects:
Article written by Netherlands DJ/Producer Eddy de Clerq on Aaron Appleton and Ensigo’s East Africa In Binaural Album:
Timeline of ensigo projects in photographs on Flickr:
Aaron interviewed on the Ugandan radio show “Nubeat”:
Nubeat Interview With Aaron