Refugee Artist Center Adds Music, Photography & Soon -> Mini-Library
An overdue update on the Nakivale Young Talent Community refugee artists, a group of 15+ aspiring artists trying to launch their creative careers while living in a Refugee Settlement in Uganda
Welcome to the January - March edition of “Nakivale YTC Artist News”! A “month-in-the-life” (although it’s been a quarter!) series chronicling a young refugee artist collective called “Nakivale Young Talent Community” in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. This and related content is located on the Refugee Artist Support Circle section of The Creative Convergence.
To catch up, read the June 2024, July 2024, August 2024, September 2024, October 2024, November 2024 and December 2024 posts!
Subscribe specifically to this section for free (click here to go to your settings for subscribing to The Creative Convergence to toggle on or off subscribing to the the Support Circle). As a subscriber you receive monthly digests full of stories, art, videos and pictures featuring the struggles and successes of 15 talented emerging young refugee artists living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Upgrade to paid and you can become part of the Refugee Support Circle; 100% of your $8 monthly subscription goes directly to NYTC to support their material costs. Plus you receive artful perks! Learn more more about that here.
Mini-Zine Distribution - 200+ Kids Received!
In December, we wrote about how we wanted to print mini-zines - short stories written and illustrated by young artists - to distribute to the children who learn art at NYTC. We were successful thanks to many RedBubble merchandise purchases and individual donations! Over 200 mini-zines were distributed at the NYTC Christmas party.
What’s more, we raised funds to provide each child with a small gift.
The Christmas party went off without a hitch. A Christmas Eve African Campfire for the older children and young adults was full of story-telling and discussion. Of course, noone slept and they were up early in the morning playing with water guns while waiting for the children to show up.
MEANWHILE… Muhindo Mutundi was working hard on building three guitars, a special New Year’s Eve surprise for the artists.
New Year’s Eve - An Illness Interlude
Unfortunately, after all of the Christmas celebrations, Akon fell extremely ill with Malaria and Typhoid while on a short trip to Mbarara to repair his cell phone. Many, MANY thanks are due to
for recommending a clinic for his treatment. Akon’s family members arrived at the clinic along with artist Krehim Sharon; turns out some of them were also ill. They spent New Year’s Eve at the clinic together healing and recuperating, thankfully feeling well enough to watch the fireworks from outside the clinic’s doors.When they returned to the Settlement, healed and refreshed, Muhindo delivered the three guitars, the first instruments to kick off NYTC’s music program.
Ubuntu International & Stand Up For Justice Support NYTC With Grant Funds
Shortly before the holidays, we learned that NYTC would be the recipient of a grant from Stand Up For Justice and
International. In fact, NYTC and two other organizations - ABCC (a school) and GoGreen (a permaculture/skills training organization led by ) - would be a new “Ubuntu Hub”. For NYTC the investment meant a new mobile recording studio, chairs and tables for the art center, and ultimately additional land, a projector and screen, and a photography program. There is so much more to share about these new developments. But, rather than tell you about them, check out the videos and pictures!Chairs & Tables Arrive
Funding in part purchased cabinets, tables and chairs to support the children’s learning. Children for many months have been sitting on broken benches and the floor.
NYTC Vests & Banner Produced
In the Settlement, all Community Based Organizations must have vests and badges. And, a banner helps when on the move. Here, Akon models the new vest with Ubuntu International and Stand Up For Justice logos. Thank you Rob Dickinson for your inspiring song “My Name Is Love.” [One of my favorites!]
Music Studio Equipment Installed!
Ubuntu and Stand Up For Justice funded a\A mobile recording studio replete with piano, guitar, mics, stands, and recording equipment that arrived in early January. Set up began immediately under the expert eye of a professional local refugee producer named John. Krehim Sharon (pictured below with blue guitar) tries out the equipment.
Check, check, 1, 2, 3! The artists gather to test the equipment.
Preparing for Ubuntu International’s Visit
Early February was the planned date for Ubuntu International’s visit. Preparations were underway, including painting an Ubuntu logo on the Center’s wall.
Finally the day arrived. Pato Banton and Antoinette Rootsdawtah of Ubuntu International and Stand Up For Justice were greeted with art, dance and song.
No visit is complete without acrobatic Culture Dance!
And communal painting. In foreground, Eric of ABCC with Pato & Antoinette of Ubuntu.
Group shot from an amazing day. Wish I were there!
After the amazing visit from Ubuntu, another surprise arrived. A Smart Projector and screen to connect the kids even more with the outside world. The projector will allow for upcoming art exhibits as well as group meetings with artists and others around the world.
In celebration of Pato Banton and Antoinette
’s visit in early, the artists collaborated with “Culture Dance” troupe to produce this incredible video to Pato and Antoinette’s “Spirit of Ubuntu” song.Photography Lessons with DR LEE!
Since the Ubuntu visit, more opportunities have opened up. DR Lee has been photographing and using his videography skills to document the artists and their work for at least a year now. He is stepping up, volunteering his skills to launch a beginner’s photography course for up to a dozen young refugees. Documenting their stories and lives, their environment, their challenges, their joys will be an amazing next step for the creativity of these young individuals. We can’t wait to share their photography with you!
Next Up - Mini-Library!
After the cuts to USAID funding, we learned that Alight (the foundation fka American Refugee Committee out of Minnesota) was losing a large amount of their funding. This inevitably affects the Alight-administered Nakivale Community Library, the only library in the community of 180,000+ refugees. Furthermore, the library hours are incompatible with the needs of children, open only when children are in school. A recent visit from Alight Program Director Leah sparked the idea to create a mini-library at the Art Education Center. Why? Because the Center has become a community meeting place (with solar and wi-fi attracting many community members) and is open on the weekends (when the Library is not).
Launching of the NYTC Mini-Library
Leah has graciously provided a list of books for NYTC to purchase. We have a sponsor already waiting in the wings to contribute $100. Would you like to sponsor a book to help support the children’s education, curiousity and growth? If so, DM me, leave a comment, or email me at rainmakerdesign4africa@gmail.com. GoFundMe to come soon. Or just donate here! Each book costs $10. And, yes it’s cheaper to buy there than to donate from here and ship - believe me! When you donate, your name will be entered into the inside of the book and we will send you a message of gratitude. We’ll be posting videos of children reading the books too. What joy!
New Art Coming!
This post is already too long but we cannot forget to share that there is NEW art! Soon, soon, there will be a post that shares the new art. Don’t forget, if you want to support the artists, you can always shop on the RedBubble site. All profits benefit the NYTC artists! All of the art pieces look amazing on all sorts of merchandise. We will leave you with Joz’s “Love, Peace & Unity” painting. You can get this as a pair of socks, a shirt, even a puzzle!
Until next time, be well! In solidarity with you and all artists and refugees worldwide,
