New AGYA Youth Leaders Announced

The involvement of youth in leadership positions of the organization is a central aspect of AGYA's philosophy. This is a departure from traditional Ugandan culture, which maintains the supremacy of elders, a point of view that often diminishes the capabilities of young people and renders their opinions irrelevant or unimportant. 

In AGYA, youth leaders have decision-making authority, contribute to the organization's overall strategic plan, conduct outreach and advocacy in the community, lead meetings, facilitate classes and workshops, and serve as Ambassadors to friends of AGYA. The inclusion of these powerful young voices has helped to set the organization's agenda and introduced new, innovative solutions to key problems affecting the thousands of Ugandan's living in urban poverty.

(ABOVE: AGYA's new leadership team with Co-Founders, Divinity Barkley and Abraham Matovu)

AGYA Art Students Earn A Field Trip To The Source of The River Nile

12 students who actively participated in AGYA Volunteer, Ben Rothschild's art class were rewarded with a free field trip to Jinja, the source of the River Nile, the world's longest river. While tourists frequent the site, for many of the students, the trip to Jinja was their first time to see the beauty of the River Nile. Students expressed gratitude for being given the chance to see the natural beauty that exists in their country.

During the day-long field trip, students were provided with a nutritious lunch and breakfast. They put into practice the skills they had acquired and developed over the course of Rothschild's 4-week workshops, and completed some beautiful, breathtaking still life and landscape drawings. See below for pictures chronicling this amazing opportunity that was given to 12 special, standout art students!

Above: Students pose for a group picture with their teacher, Ben Rothschild.

ABOVE: Ben explains the next activity to art students, Nelson Kazibwe and Kenneth Mulinde.

ABOVE: Students gather in a circle to share their critique of each students' final projects.

ABOVE: Aspiring artists, Juma Kaweesi and Enoch Kaweera take in the breathtaking view of Bujagali Falls.

ABOVE: Nelson Kazibwe and Brian Sseguya search for a new location to begin their next activity.

ABOVE: Juma works on a life drawing.

ABOVE: Ben takes a break from answering student questions.

ABOVE: Kaweera focuses on the perspective of his drawing.

ABOVE: Rita Nansubuga completes part 2 of the day's activities at Bujagali Falls.

ABOVE: Brian Sseguya gets started on part 1 of the day's projects at the Source of the River Nile.

ABOVE: Racheal Nankya focuses on shading her artwork.

ABOVE: Students pose for a group picture at the statue of famed peacemaker, Indira Ghandi.

ABOVE: Ben gives Brian some feedback on his life drawing.

ABOVE: Students arrive at Bujagali Falls.

ABOVE: Students receive papers, pencils, and erasers before beginning the day's activities.

ABOVE: Students snack on fresh mangoes.

ABOVE/BELOW: Students take in the scenery at the source of the River Nile

AGYA Hopes to Join One Laptop Per Child Digital Revolution

Focusing on increasing the computer literacy of young Ugandans, AGYA has decided to reach out to world-renowned organization, "One Laptop Per Child" to secure a small grant of 10 computers to implement the following proposed project!

1. Name of Project: (Amagezi Gemaanyi: Knowledge is Power)

Shipping Address You've Verified
Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association
c/o Mr. Matovu Abraham
Munaku Junction, near Kasubi Tombs
Off Kiyingi Lane
Kampala, Uganda
+256753098499

Number of Laptops (or other hardware) You Request to Borrow: 10 laptops

Loan Length—How Many Months: 20 months

Contact Info: (include all email addresses & phone numbers)

Matovu Abraham (Team Leader)
abraham.amagezi@gmail.com
Phone: 256753098499
Education: Graduate, Lubiri High School
Profession: Co-founder and Secretariat, Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association
Qualifications: More than 5 years experience working with children and youth.

Divinity Barkley
E-mail: divinity.amagezi@gmail.com,
Phone: 256753098499 or 213-245-4339
Education: Graduate, University of Southern California (B.A. in Political Science and African Studies; Candidate for Makerere University’s M.A. Degree Program in the Department of Women and Gender Studies
Profession: Co-founder and Executive Director, Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association
Qualifications: Three years professional managerial experience and extensive training as a youth facilitator and outreach specialist, particularly with at-risk teen girls.

Sarah Mulekatete
E-mail: sarah.amagezi@gmail.com
Education: Graduate, Kasubi Secondary School
Profession: Youth Leader & Manager, Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association
Qualifications: Has served in leadership positions in AGYA for over one (1) year.

Nelson Kazibwe
E-mail: kazibwe.amagezi@gmail.com
Education: Graduate, Excel Senior School
Profession: Youth Leader & Manager, Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association
Qualifications: Has served in leadership positions in AGYA for over one (1) year.

3. Objectives

Project Objectives:

The primary objective is to promote the Amagezi Gemaanyi Computer Lab as a safe learning space for children (ages 6-11) and youth (ages 12-20) by implementing a project that will supplement the Ugandan Primary and Secondary School reading, writing, and mathematics syllabus using the interactive games and applications within the XO laptop as a fun, innovative teaching aid.

• * To enhance the functionality of the Amagezi Gemaanyi Computer Lab
• * To improve the performance of 100 children/youth (ages 6-20) in English reading and writing proficiency
• * To improve the performance of 50 children (ages 6-11) in basic Mathematical operations (including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and ratios)
• * To provide a safe, nurturing, personalized learning environment
• * To teach 100 children/youth how to utilize basic typing programs
• * To enhance the digital literacy and technological communication skills of all project participants

4. Plan of Action

Plan and Procedure for Achieving the Stated Objectives:

The implementation of this project will take place at the AGYA Learning Center in Lubya, and will reach out to children/youth living in the urban slum communities of Lubya, Nabulagala, Lusaze, and Nakulabye.

• AGYA will enhance the functionality of the Amagezi Gemaanyi Computer Lab by acquiring 10 OLPC laptops for a period of 20 months
• AGYA will work with our current staff and members as well as the local chief in Lubya and Nakulabye to identify 50 children (ages 6-11) and 50 youth (ages 12-20) who will benefit from the proposed project
• AGYA will improve the performance of 100 children/youth (ages 6-20) in English reading and writing proficiency by utilizing English as the language of instruction during classes, and implementing voice recordings and visual aids to connect words and images. Specifically, we will focus on spelling and correct pronunciation, grammatical skills, building vocabulary, as well as online writing and reading comprehension projects. Students will type their classwork using their XO laptop, conduct live chats with classmates using their XO laptop, and use Wikipedia to find vocabulary definitions.
• AGYA will improve the performance of 50 children (ages 6-11) in basic Mathematical operations (including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and ratios) by using pertinent interactive XO laptop applications that focus on math
• AGYA will provide a safe, nurturing, personalized learning environment by limiting class sizes to maximize one-on-one communication with the class instructor, and eventually encouraging students to be innovative and independent with their XO laptops
• AGYA will teach 100 children/youth how to utilize basic typing programs by offering ample time for students to practice typing through dictation and transcription
• AGYA will enhance the students’ digital literacy and technological communication skills by establishing active e-mail accounts and teaching all project participants how to navigate the World Wide Web and conduct basic internet research utilizing popular search engines

5. Needs

Why is this project needed?

1. Uganda, with a median age of 15 years, has the youngest population in the world (The East African, Dec. 2008 Article, Report from International Social Security Association). Based on even the most conservative estimates, at least 15 million of Uganda's 27 million people (or 55%) are under the age of 20. With little to look forward to, Ugandan children/youth, especially those living in urban poverty, are vulnerable to drug and substance abuse, sexual and labour exploitation, domestic violence, gang involvement and HIV/AIDS. Therefore, Ugandan children/youth living in urban poverty are in vital need of safe spaces where they can express themselves, access information, gain computer skills and digital literacy.
2. Our target community (children/youth ages 6-20 living in urban slum communities of Lubya, Nabulagala, Lusaze, and Nakulabye), has limited access to the World Wide Web and digital technology, thus are unable to access information and develop the skills needed to actively contribute to the 21^st Century Global World
3. The majority of students in our target community have failed to fully comprehend the fundamentals of Mathematics during their Primary Education, and thus are at a major learning disadvantage as they move forward in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Algebra, Geometry and Calculus. Additionally, the Education System in Uganda focuses on theoretical learning, especially with mathematics. The proposed project will construct mathematics within the practical realm by providing interactive hands-on math games and learning activities.
4. The majority of students in our target community feel discouraged from speaking English due to the fact that students are often penalized, beaten or humiliated at school if they are “caught” speaking in an indigenous African language. The proposed project will reframe the way students think about English by fostering open dialogue in a nurturing learning environment that does not penalize, but rather engages students through the use of video recordings, audio to enhance pronunciation and comprehension, and interactive games that make learning English fun.

During the 20 month loan period, we will register 100 project participants because every 4 months, we will register 10 new children ages 6-11, and 10 new youth ages 12-20. The youth class will be held twice each week for two hours. The children’s class will be held three times each week for 50 minutes. We are requesting 10 machines because we would like every student to have their own individual XO laptop. We are willing to work with rebuilt XO machines, but would prefer not to receive damaged laptops as we do not have the funds to repair the machines.

6. Sharing Deliverables

Project URL—where you'll report specific ongoing progress: http://www.amagezigemaanyi.blogspot.com/

How will you convey tentative ideas & results back to the OLPC/Sugar community, prior to completion?

We will convey tentative ideas and results back to the OLPC/Sugar community via e-mail and through weekly updates to our Project Blog, and monthly updates on AGYA’s Organizational Blog. Updates will include: photographs, short videos, and written testimonials from project participants.

How will the final fruits of your labor be distributed to children or community members worldwide?

Our final results will be distributed to our target community, their families, and the world through the Project Blog, AGYA’s Organizational Blog, frequent e-mail updates, and several short mini-documentaries which highlight the progress of each 4-month project that will be posted on the Project Blog, AGYA’s Organizational Blog, and AGYA’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages. We will also reach out to local and international media outlets to gain coverage of our project and share the fruits of our labor with the world!

Will your work have any possible application or use outside our community?

If yes, how will these people be reached?

Our work can be applied and used by other NGOs and schools in Uganda that have similar goals. We will reach out to these organizations and educational institutions by sending out a hard-copy newsletter highlighting our success, challenges, and lessons learned. We will also provide these organizations and educational institutions with all the information they will need to submit a project proposal. Finally, we will inform these organizations and educational institutions that our team members are willing to serve as mentors/advisors to their proposed projects.

Have you investigated working with nearby XO Lending Libraries or Project Groups?

We researched Lending Libraries, but did not find any in the East African region. Additionally, we investigated the work of project groups, and found projects with similar goals in Kenya and Rwanda. If possible, we would love to collaborate with groups in these areas.

7. Quality/Mentoring

Would your Project benefit from Support, Documentation and/or Testing people?

Yes, our project would benefit from support and documentation regarding usability and functionality. We would like guidance on what types of games and activities have worked well for similar projects in areas similar to urban Uganda. For example, viewing streaming videos online is often difficult to slow network connections, thus we would benefit greatly from advice and recommendations that can help us maximize our usability and avoid common mistakes and pitfalls.

Can we help you with an experienced mentor from the OLPC/Sugar community?

If YES: specify the kind of Ongoing Mentoring that will benefit you most.

Yes, we would prefer an experienced mentor who has worked with children and youth living in urban poverty, is able to answer technical questions, and can offer recommendations on specific learning games and activities for our curriculum. We believe that having a mentor would assist us with staying on track, and achieving our key goals.

Photo Gallery: Nov - Dec 2009

AGYA Marks Major Milestones of 2009

Through hard work and determination, AGYA accomplished some major goals during our first year of operation.

• December 2008: established core objectives, vision statement and opened doors of a 6-room facility to Ugandans living in the urban slum of Nabulagala

• January 2009: began hosting classes and workshops for approximately 200 women and children who registered with the organization

• April 2009: opened computer lab after receiving a donation of computers

• May 2009: hosted 9 international student volunteers from the University of Southern California and Nasra Mire, Co-Director of Point Youth Media
  

• July 2009: formed a partnership with the Century City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and launched a girls scholarship/mentorship program

• September 2009: honored as a special guest at the Kampala City Council Annual Literacy Day

• October 2009: officially became registered with the Republic of Uganda as a non-governmental organization (NGO)

• November 2009: hosted 3 individual international volunteers, including Hawa Mire, Co-Director of Point Youth Media, Ben Rothschild, and Jenny Calvert all of whom shared skills, such as art, film, photography, and dance with AGYA Youth

Throughout the year:

• We maintained our free lunch program, providing clean drinking water and nutritious meals to more than 100 Ugandan children;
• We offered Ugandan youth a safe space to express themselves creatively through dance, music, poetry, art, and creative writing;
• We provided outreach, support, and advocacy to Ugandans living in Nabulagala, Nakulabye, Kasubi, and Bulange;
• We developed leadership skills in Ugandan youth;
• We enriched the lives of all our members through innovative programming.

In 2010, we are focused on solidifying our organizational and financial sustainability. This will entail continued training of our youth leader staff, seeking support of corporate donors and grant-making entities, and developing our income-generating activities. We are also formulating plans to acquire a plot of land in a nearby village, which will produce enough food to fully sustain our free lunch program. The surplus will be sold at local markets to generate income for AGYA’s general expenses.

This Holiday season, you can help support our charitable work in Uganda by making a tax-deductible donation on your behalf or in the name of a friend, relative, or co-worker.

At your request, we can e-mail you a special gift voucher; just contact us at: amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com

All you have to do is:

1. Fill out the voucher and present it to a special person
2. Make a check payable to “African Millennium Foundation” and write “AGYA-UGANDA” in the memo line of your check
3. Mail your tax-deductible donation to:

African Millennium Foundation

c/o Amagezi Gemaanyi

468 North Camden Drive

Beverly Hills, California 90212

We look forward to your continued support in 2010.

Sincerely,

Divinity L. Barkley
Executive Director, AGYA

Matovu Abraham

Secretariat, AGYA

Artist Ben Rothschild Prepares for Trip to Uganda

Ben Rothschild, a native of Racine, Wisconsin and a recent graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), is making final preparations for his upcoming trip to Uganda where he will facilitate arts workshops with children and youth at the AGYA Learning Center. Since graduating from MIAD, Rothschild has been studio-based in Racine, Wisconsin and has been exhibiting his work locally and nationally.

For Rothschild (pictured below), this trip represents his first visit to the continent of Africa and a unique opportunity to share his love for the arts.

* Photo Credit: A. Marie Phillips and Barbara J. Miner *

In Uganda, Rothschild will work with AGYA Youth Leader, Kenneth Mulinde who currently teaches AGYA's art classes. The collaborative teaching method between Rothschild and Mulinde represents AGYA's philosophy about international volunteers. "Although we welcome visitors to travel to Uganda and share their skills with the youth, all international volunteers are expected to work with AGYA's Youth Leaders to implement classes. Not only does this empower our youth but it also allows volunteers to contribute within the context of shared cultural understanding" said AGYA co-founders Abraham Matovu and Divinity Barkley.

Rothschild and Mulinde, who have been communicating via Skype and email for more than three (3) months, have developed an exciting curriculum which will include art classes and workshops four times per week for the duration of Rothschild's trip.

When asked to explain his thoughts on his upcoming trip, Rothschild said:

"It seems like it was yesterday that I first spoke with Kenny on the phone, as we discussed the possibility of me travelling to his home in Uganda. Kenny has been an inspiration to me since we first spoke. I cried tears of gratitude after our first conversation because he reminded me of what I had forgotten. Being an artist has little to do with how well one draws, paints, etches, or forges, it has everything to do with passion. The passion in Kenny's voice is so refreshing. Already a skilled craftsman at a young age, Kenny told me he would like to be a professional artist. I told him he already was.

During my stay with AGYA, it is not my goal to create artists. Rather it is my mission to give these passionate individuals the training that was so freely given to me, so that the can have the tools and resources to better express themselves and share their art with the world"

AGYA Goes to the Studio!

As one of the few community-based organizations in Uganda that has adopted hip-hop culture as a foundational element of our arts and education programs, AGYA is giving urban Ugandan youth the opportunity to express themselves through rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti art in an environment of shared values. AGYA has embraced the philosophy of conscious, positive hip-hop as a global youth culture by fully integrating the culture's messages, themes, style, and images into our After-School Program curriculum.

AGYA Youth have formed "BTH" which stands for Big Time Hustlers. Though inspired by American rap artists such as Jay-Z, T.I., and Lil Wayne, BTH are truly defining their own message and style that is uniquely African. Rapping in indigenous languages, BTH focuses on making music with positive messages that can inspire youth to reach their full potential, continue their education, and be who they are. BTH raised enough money for a studio session by selling chapati, tea, and groundnuts at AGYA's weekly Sunday community meetings. In recent weeks, BTH has performed at local schools, and recorded their first song. In 2010, BTH plans to record more songs, launch their first fashion brand of t-shirts, and create innovative music videos for their first single.

Hoping to record another song before the Christmas holiday, BTH is currently fundraising for their second studio session. To contribute to this effort, U.S. donors can mail your tax-deductible donation to:

African Millennium Foundation
c/o Amagezi Gemaanyi(AGYA)
468 North Camden Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90210

* write "AGYA-Uganda BTH project" in the memo line of your check or money order to ensure that your donation is properly allocated *

Ugandan donors should e-mail: amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com to make donation arrangements.

BTH in Pictures

AGYA Youth Leaders and BTH founders, Brian "B-Stat" Sseguya and Nelson "Vimcage" Kazibwe perform for high-school students, teachers, and parents at a special event hosted by Kampala Secondary School in October 2009.

ABOVE & BELOW: Brian Sseguya during BTH's first recording session.

ABOVE: BTH members during a free-style practice session at the AGYA Learning Center in Kampala.

ABOVE: BTH celebrates AGYA's NGO Certification.

ABOVE: Rita Nansubuga, an AGYA Girls Member and BTH's only female MC, performs her verse during the studio session while fellow MC, Nelson Kazibwe documents the session.

Volunteer, Jenny Calvert, Shares Her Experience at the AGYA Learning Center in Uganda

Jenny Calvert, a 22-year old graduate of the University of Southern California and founding member of AGYA partner organization R.A.Y.S.E. (Rise of African Youth through Self-Empowerment, a student-led group at USC), has been in Uganda since September. In this article, Calvert who hopes to work in the field of international development shares her thoughts about AGYA and Uganda's language, culture, and people!

(Above: Calvert plays a card game with 3-year old Shafik)

(Written By Jennifer Calvert, 10-30-2009) Before I arrived in Uganda, when people asked me what I would be doing at AGYA, I responded, with enthusiasm, “Teaching!”. And though I technically have been holding English and creative writing classes twice a week and dance classes once a week since I have been here, the perpetual newness of my experiences and the energy and talent of the people around me has turned my entire world into a classroom.

Besides the actual classes that are happening every day – art, music, dance, film, photography and countless others – I am discovering a new way of life and a new culture in many simple, everyday tasks. And with every single new experience I have here in Uganda, I lose a little bit of my heart to this beautiful country and its people.

One of the first things that Divinity said to me when we sat down for my first Luganda lesson was, “The best thing about Luganda is that it makes sense. It’s logical. The ancestors knew what they were doing”. And while that is absolutely the case with the local language in Kampala, that observation also applies more broadly to way life is lived here. Take food, for instance. Families grow a variety of agricultural products on their farms and bring them daily into the local market, where other people buy them. This is not because we have an active Slow Food Movement chapter or a co-op of local farmers and a progressive streak in our neighborhood, but because that is how people have lived for centuries – healthily, and happily.

In addition to life as it should be, one of my favorite things about staying at the AGYA house is the constant positive and creative energy that both the youth leaders and the participants of classes bring to the space. And again, while I came to lead classes, being constantly surrounded by young people using their talent to express their dreams and their experiences has revived a spark in me that I lost somewhere among the books, essays, and analysis of other people’s thoughts that my education required of me. It was only when I recognized the positive influence that being a part of this community has had on me that I really understood how important the work of AGYA is.

In my short month here, the members of AGYA have become my surrogate family, and though I am half a world away from the place I was born and raised, I feel completely at home. And despite the cultural and linguistic differences, my roommates here and I laugh about and get frustrated by the same things, have the same big dreams for our future, and have dance parties to the same music as me and my friends back home. And if someone asked me today what I have been doing in Uganda, I could only reply “Learning, laughing, being inspired”.

Above: Jenny with the AGYA Family Melodies Choir before departing for a praise and worship ministry at a local church

Above: Jenny having a one-on-one Luganda language lesson with AGYA Youth Leader, Nelson Kazibwe

Above: Jenny assists with the AGYA Free Lunch Program by preparing chapati, a local favorite made from flour, water, and salt!

Above: AGYA Girls members participate in Jenny's weekly dance class.

Above: Jenny, Shafik, and Nelson celebrate Ugandan Independence Day at the Annual Trade Fair Exhibition on October 9th.