Guwahati, April 5: Music heals, unites and helps rebuild futures.

With this belief, Imphal Talkies singer Akhu Chingangbam has joined hands with the Foundation for Social Transformation, an NGO here, to teach music to at least 90 children orphaned by the frequent ethnic conflicts and HIV/AIDS in Manipur.

Akhu, a Meitei, and a group of singers belonging to other ethnic communities, will start music classes from April 18 and are planning to release a multi-lingual album by July.

"Violence such as the frequent Naga-Kuki clashes killed their parents, left them traumatised and shattered their dreams. Orphanages are now their home but there is no one to heal their wounds within. We will teach them music, help them write songs and sing. This way we can help them heal the wounds. Singing and working together will strengthen friendship among the children belonging to different ethnic communities," Akhu told The Telegraph over phone from Imphal.

A PhD in physics from Jamia Milia Islamia University, Akhu and four others formed the band - Imphal Talkies - in 2008.

Their two popular albums, Tiddim Road and When the Home is Burning, raised voices against negative politics, violence, Irom Sharmila's fight against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, among other issues of public interest.

Akhu and the group of artistes will begin with music workshops in two children's homes on the outskirts of Imphal.

"Workshops will be followed by the children singing and playing both folk and western musical instruments. We will pick up the best and include them in our multi-lingual albums, which we hope to release in July," he said.

The two homes also house children orphaned by HIV/AIDS-another serious issue in Manipur.

They have taken permission from the Imphal child welfare committee to involve the children in the music project.

"We hope to bring back joy and good moments to their lives. If people come up and join us, we can together bring smiles on their faces, educate them and help them see and realise dreams. Before we talk about solving other issues of Manipur, we need to strengthen the bonds among different ethnic groups and we can start with children," he said.

The Foundation for Social Transformation said the use of music, as a therapeutic tool would bring emotional healing to the children.

"They grow up amid violence and negativity, which results in a destructive adulthood and in a generation lost to violence. Orphanages provide them their basic needs but they don't have the resources to provide them with emotional support," Kangkana Bordoloi, a member of the foundation, said.

On March 29, the NGO organised an event at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, to raise funds for the project. It plans to raise at least Rs 3 lakh.