Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association

AGYA & TOMS Shoes Announce Long-Term Partnership

2012-01-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

AGYA is pleased to inform all our supporters about a new long-term partnership with TOMS Shoes, a company based in Santa Monica, CA. TOMS Shoes has contributed a container of new shoes to AAH to support our youth education and outreach programs.

The AGYA youth leader team, led by Country Director Abraham Matovu, are in the process of distributing the shoes to AGYA members as well as local partner schools and NGOs in Kampala and Masaka districts. Among the beneficiaries of the shoes will be children at Nabulagala Good Hope Primary School in Kampala and participants active with Uganda Rural Fund programs in Masaka as well as AGYA members.

For many beneficiaries, their new pair of TOMS will be the first or only pair of closed-toe shoes they own.

In the communities where AGYA works, many youth walk outside barefoot or in rubber flip-flops on unpaved roads or muddy pathways, making themselves susceptible to cuts, abrasions, bruises and puncture wounds in their feet. If left untreated - especially during the rainy season - these injuries can become infected and lead to serious ailments that would be easily prevented with a pair of durable shoes.

AGYA is grateful to TOMS Shoes for their generous contribution which will significantly impact the overall health and well-being of the beneficiaries. The shoes will also increase school attendance as the style of the shoes are considered acceptable footwear for school uniforms.

AGYA is also thankful to the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development which provided much-needed support and resources to clear the shoes through customs.

One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration between AGYA and TOMS Shoes is TOMS' commitment to repeat giving which ensures that the children and youth who receive shoes now will continue to receive new shoes as they grow up. This will have a significant impact on these children, their health, and their education. Over the next several years, AGYA will continue to work with TOMS Shoes to develop and sustain this wonderful partnership.

Check our blog in the next few weeks to see more photos and videos of the shoe distribution in action!

Help AGYA Raise $4,000 by End of 2011

2011-12-02T03:16:00.000-08:00

Vote for AGYA & Help Us Win a Share of Over $3 million From Chase Community Giving!

2011-11-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

Just click on the link above to cast your vote for AGYA International! We want to secure 1,500 votes by Tuesday 22 November.

AGYA Presents "Where We Work" Video

2011-11-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

The latest AGYA video features images of the community where we work. Much of the footage was shot by AGYA Youth Leader Happy Namutebi. Enjoy!

AGYA Selected as 2011 Grant Recipient by UN-Habitat Youth Fund

2011-10-31T03:40:00.000-07:00

Following informal announcements on Facebook & Twitter last month, AGYA is excited to officially announce that we were selected as a recipient of a grant from the UN-Habitat Youth Fund. With the resources from the grant, AGYA will implement "Reel Talk: Confronting Global Gender Disparities Through Digital Media." Under the leadership of AGYA Executive Director Divinity Matovu and AGYA Girls Program Director Happy Namutebi, "Reel Talk" is a 12-month project that will train 48 teen girls to use film, digital media and photography as a platform to provide girls ages 15-20 with the training, artistic license and communication skills to transform attitudes and behaviors about critical gender issues among disadvantaged youth living in urban poverty in Kampala. After completing the training, the girls will film and edit their own short films that will educate 10,000 youth who will see the films in live screenings at select sites in Uganda and online via YouTube, Blogger, Facebook and Twitter.

The project will launch in January 2012 and will be done partly in collaboration with ImMEDIAte Justice, a Los Angeles-based organization that empowers young women of color with the knowledge and skill-sets to generate new images of reproductive freedom that inspire community action and global dialogue. ImMEDIAte Justice will collaborate with AGYA by providing guidance on curriculum development for the training course. IMJ will also send a member of their organization to Uganda to conduct part of the training.

AGYA is honored to be among the 2011 Youth Fund Grant Recipients, especially since more than 6,000 other youth groups from Africa, Asia and Latin America applied to the fund. For the full list of grant recipients, click here.

In the coming months, AGYA will be posting project updates on our website, Blog and social media networks. So, check back soon to hear about the progress of this project!

AGYA To Collaborate with Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy (JUiCE) on International Artist Exchange

2011-10-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

AGYA is proud to announce that we are partnering with Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy (JUiCE) on an international hip-hop artist exchange project that will bring Los Angeles-based MC and Hellfyre Club recording artist, Open Mike Eagle and Los Angeles-based beatmaker and Brainfeeder artist, Ras G, to work with Ugandan rapper Mon MC, youth artists, and other local musicians in Uganda for three weeks during summer 2012.

J.U.i.C.E. is a Los Angeles-based a non-profit hip-hop organization that encourages the creative expression and self-empowerment of all people through skill-building in the music, visual art, and dance of the hip-hop culture.

The project idea was born in 2010 when AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Matovu connected with JUiCE Co-Executive Director Daniel Rizik-Baer, who provided advice and guidance during the curriculum planning phase of "Recording Our Dreams," an AGYA project that is currently training youth on music production and recording with a focus on hip-hop. Learn more about "Recording Our Dreams" here.

Through this collaboration, AGYA and JUiCE aim to:

To exchange knowledge about the musical traditions of hip-hop, both its roots in African music and the unique styles of rapping and production born in Los Angeles, paying particular attention to similarities and differences in rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumentation and content.
To support the growth and development of hip-hop music in Uganda through artist-led workshops for emerging hip-hop artists in Uganda, which will cover hip-hop music production and rapping.
To collaboratively produce works of art, culminating in the production of a 4-5 track CD; and
To provide public benefit and experience of the arts through a live performance for the general public at the Ugandan National Theater in Kampala, Uganda, through a low-cost exhibition and panel discussion for Los Angeles residents upon return to Los Angeles, and through free online distribution of the culminating musical works.

The total project cost is just under $18,000 and covers travel, room and board, equipment, stipends, and other items necessary for the trip. AGYA and JUiCE have received partial funding of $8,000 from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Exchange International (CEI) Fellowship Program. While we are grateful to be among the recipients of the prestigious CEI fellowship grant, we still need to raise an additional $10,000 USD in order to make the project a success. We are using the online fundraising platform, StayClassy to raise part of the funds online.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 via StayClassy by January 15, 2012. We encourage supporters to make a donation online or create your very own personal fundraising page with a minimum goal of $250. Support us here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/detail?eid=8079

As the project launch approaches, we will be posting additional updates and details on the AGYA Blog, Facebook, and Twitter! Stay tuned!

AGYA Youth Featured in Documentary Film: Drinking From The Well

2011-09-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Film Synopsis: Drinking from the Well captures the real lives of Ugandan youth struggling to create a positive future in an environment that tests every ability to survive. Nabulagala, the Kampala slum where they live, is populated with broken lives, crumbling homes, and bleak prospects. The sun’s heat suppresses emotion. Dust from the red clay cakes every surface. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes jab at unprotected skin. Homemade alcohol, glue, and other drugs, substances that offer a brief reprieve from the misery, have turned people into empty shells that occupy the shadows of this slum. Day in and day out, the next generation of Kampalans must surmount these obstacles in order to begin thinking, dreaming and hoping about the future. Somehow, Happy, Shamirah, B-Start, Kenny and Jajanelly, have done much more than this. Under the umbrella of the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA), a community center where they live, these five have united to push against the odds and forge a future rich with possibility.

The film's anticipated release date is Summer 2012. Check out the trailer here and visit DFTW's Facebook Page!

Drinking From The Well Trailer from One Hand Clapping Pictures on Vimeo.

AGYA Conducts Outreach on Lingira Island

2011-07-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

By: Kenny Mulinde

With a population of about 600 people, Lingira is one of Uganda’s largest islands on Lake Victoria. The most dominant economic activity on the island is fishing. The people depend on fishing for sustenance and to generate revenue because farming is not very viable due to rocky, infertile soil. According to a Lingira health advocate, the rate of HIV/AIDS on the islands is a staggering 80%. That is, of every 10 people, 8 are HIV positive. Other diseases like malaria are also prevalent. There is only one school and one health facility on Lingira Island, and people from neighboring islands also come to these facilities to learn and get medical treatment. Youth and children make up about 60% of the island’s population. Only 20% of the youth attend school; nearly 40 % spend the majority of their time fishing to support their families.

Lingira island is associated with high rates of illiteracy, wide spread poverty and limited social and economic resources due to inaccessibility and isolation.

AGYA came to know about the challenges facing Lingira residents through the EDGE Project (Empowerment through Development and Gender Equality) which is a student group at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. AGYA has been collaborating with EDGE since AGYA Co-Founder, Divinity Barkley Matovu first met the UW-Madison student leaders in 2009 at the Annual Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting.

AGYA youth on the boat en route to Lingira.

Last year, AGYA’s Country Director, Abraham Matovu, traveled to the island with UW-Madison students to observe EDGE programs. On 24-26 June 2011, Abraham returned to Lingira with 8 youth. While there, AGYA youth facilitated dance, art, and sex education workshops with approximately 200 youth.

Despite all its challenges, Lingira is a very beautiful island with gorgeous scenery. In the middle of the Lake Victoria waters, Lingira Island is a place where everyone would love to be. Due to the positive response we received during the June 2011 workshops, AGYA plans to continue sending teams of youth from Kampala to provide outreach in Lingira. We hope, in the near future, to have a better Lingira with AIDS free healthy living and self reliant people.

Above: The AGYA team at Lingira!

AGYA Reaches Out To Grandmothers In Kangurumira Village

2011-07-05T03:03:00.000-07:00

By: Kenny Mulinde

In May 2011, Amy and Patricia of Grandmothers Beyond Borders introduced AGYA to a local Grandmother’s Union operating in the village of Kangurumira in Jinja District. Personally, I think it is a very big challenge for us as young people to realize the need and importance of interacting with the elderly. In most cases, we think we know everything and also tend to ignore and abandon the teachings and guidance of our grandparents. Yet, these special people have the knowledge and guidance we need as young people to grow into responsible citizens.

AGYA Country Director Abraham Matovu (pictured here with one of the grandmothers) described the elderly as society’s living library that has all the knowledge of life skills and experiences.

After a positive and inspiring meeting with the members of the Kangurumira Grandmothers Association (KGA), AGYA youth realized the need for young people to work closely with grandmothers if we are to create change. We also determined to exchange ideas and knowledge in order to bridge the gap between the young people and the elderly.

Currently AGYA is in the process of documenting the stories and life experiences of the KGA members. This gives us an opportunity to conserve the precious words of wisdom, advice and knowledge of the grandmothers. We hope to compile all the stories, translate them into English and write a book.

Most of the grandmothers are raising at least five of their grand-children. 70% of the women are widows and depend on subsistence farming. They grow bananas, cassava, pineapples and maize and some raise cattle, goats and pigs. The proceeds from their harvest go directly to paying school fees for their grand-children. Despite the revenue generated from their crops, some women still cannot afford to educate their grand-children and access medical facilities.

During our second trip to Kangurumira village, we interviewed some of the children and were shocked to hear that school fees range from 6000 – 20,000 Ugandan Shillings (approximately $2.50 - $9.00 for one academic year). Most of the AGYA youth leaders determined to sponsor some of the children in the village starting at the beginning of the next academic term.

The work of AGYA in Kangurumira village has only just begun. We are looking forward to providing the rural youth, women and children with opportunities like school, health education and life skills.

AGYA youth with members of the Grandmother's Union in Kangurumira

AGYA Youth Happy Namutebi and Faridah Nanziri conduct a workshop with the grandmothers.

Grandmothers practice using the knitting machine provided during an AGYA workshop.

VIDEO: Interview with AGYA Girls Director, Namutebi Happy

2011-07-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

HAPPY from One Hand Clapping Pictures on Vimeo.

Reflections of a Volunteer Alumni: How AGYA Shaped & Prepared Me For My Job With Teach For America

2011-07-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

By: Marianna Singwi-Ferrono

During the summer of 2009, I spent a month living, teaching, and volunteering at AGYA along with seven other students from the University of Southern California. Founded by Nicolette Omoile in 2008-9, Rise of African Youth through Self-Empowerment (RAYSE) is the first USC recognized student-organization to send students to Africa. RAYSE is dedicated to educating, empowering, and enriching the lives of the women and youth in Uganda and eventually all of Africa. We envision RAYSE to be the umbrella organization of numerous student organizations interested in raising awareness about the African continent. In order to realize our vision, RAYSE volunteers with AGYA during our annual service-learning “Alternative Summer Break: Uganda” (ASB) student trip. During the first trip in 2009, RAYSE collectively taught computer literacy, world cultures, music/songwriting, film production, theater games, art and dance, volunteered at Nabulagala Good Hope Primary School and learned basic Luganda.

Now in 2011, eight USC students are preparing to leave for the 3rd annual RAYSE “Alternative Summer Break: Uganda”. These creative young leaders will be teaching classes such as story-telling, film and music production, entrepreneurship and dance. This year, RAYSE was also invited to the Clinton Global Initiative University leadership conference and we will be spearheading a sustainable sex-education and health program at AGYA. RAYSE has grown immensely alongside AGYA since Nicolette, RAYSE’s founder, and Divinity, AGYA’s co-founder, tossed around ideas about developing the first USC trip to Africa. RAYSE has now sent about twenty-five students to volunteer with AGYA and all eight 2010 participants became active, passionate members of RAYSE’s Executive board upon their return from their inspiring trip to Uganda. As RAYSE’s current President, previous 2010 Co-President and 2009 Fundraising director, I am proud of the progress this pioneering student organization has made.

My first day in Uganda, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the heaps of burning trash, shoeless children and houses patched together by dilapidated wooden boards, trying to wrap my head around the immense poverty and lack of opportunity that surrounded me. After only spending one day at AGYA, however, my sorrow and frustration with a world that neglects our African youth was coupled with my experiential knowledge that things can be different. The sound of beating drums and voices singing “Ya weh, ooh, ya weh”, giggling children chatting in Luganda, the smell of beans and vegetables cooking, and the sight of creativity, leadership and learning in action gave me a renewed sense of joy, passion and hope.

The first RAYSE trip in 2009 was an adventure with an innumerable amount of truly transformative experiences. I roomed with a member of RAYSE, Emily, and two AGYA youth leaders, Happy and Sarah, learned their inspiring stories and formed invaluable friendships with all three of these young women. Teaching the World Cultures class with Nicolette, we developed a mutual-connection with our Ugandan students bridging separate languages, histories, and cultures and learned about Uganda in their final project.

Above: Marianna and the USC volunteers at AGYA - June 2009

I admired Nelson, an AGYA youth leader, as he relentlessly pursued film editing into the wee hours of the night with his RAYSE cinema teacher Christina. We cheered on Kenny as he and USC volunteer Chris designed his poster for the school Head Boy election. RAYSE learned Luganda, AGYA moved into a larger facility, and Good Hope Elementary adopted a permanent Arts Program into their curriculum. All of these experiences were not only empowering for the youth of AGYA but were also empowering for me. These moments empowered me to find my role as a leader of RAYSE and thus to be a part of the solution to the large-scale poverty and lack of opportunity that once overwhelmed me. I no longer felt helpless. Education and communities like AGYA are a real solution.

The lessons of embracing diversity and equality that are reinforced by AGYA’s learning environment will be invaluable to me as a teacher. This fall, I will begin teaching in a bilingual Spanish-English classroom in a low-income community of San Francisco as a Teach For America corps member. AGYA fosters a safe community of acceptance for students’ native cultures and encourages them to speak in their native languages. At AGYA, all international volunteers learn basic Luganda and participate in cultural excursions; Ugandans and Americans, adults and children alike are both teachers and learners. In contrast, students in the local elementary schools near AGYA are often publically shamed or victims of corporal punishment for speaking in their native-language instead of English. Outside of AGYA, our Ugandan students often asked us questions such as, “does white skin feel pain?”. These examples are latent with oppressive messages of White/Western superiority, a cycle I hope to end in my own classroom. Though students in the United States are not physically punished in school for speaking a language other than English, children who are immigrants or English Language Learners are similarly marginalized and their cultures and languages are often rejected in school.

As a bilingual teacher, I will emulate AGYA’s safe learning environment for all of my students by incorporating their language, histories and cultures into their education. Whether from the villages of Uganda or the Latino communities of the Bay, our world’s youth have enormous potential. The youth leaders of AGYA are not simply arbitrary success stories of youth that have overcome enormous adversity, but rather a testament to the potential all youth can reach if they are given the opportunities and support, most importantly, an education. Thanks to my experience at AGYA, I know that I too can create an inclusive learning environment for my future students.

AGYA Debuts New Logo & Website

2011-05-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

By: Carolyn Keene

Each semester the Brand Workshop; a student design firm at the Cal State University: Long Beach, takes on 4-5 different clients whom it works with to help them with their branding and graphic design goals. These goals could be anything from a logo redesign, to a fully developed packaging system. The workshop class is special in that it brings together graphic design students from all different classes to work together. We have a range of ages as well as a range of skills; from students with web proficiency, to those with a great eye for logo design. Under the direction of professor Sunook Park, all of these students are mentored and are able to combine their skills in small teams to turn out some amazing and fresh results for both small-scale and large-scale clients.

This semester I, Carolyn Keene (Graphic Design BFA), and my team of 4 others, Chrissy Song (Interior Design BFA, Graphic Design BA), J Diaz (Graphic Design BFA), Remo Colindres Jr. (Graphic Design BA), and Ro Oeurn (Graphic Design BFA) had the privilege of working with Divinity and AGYA.

Above: AGYA Co-Founders Divinity & Abraham with Professor Sunook Park and the CSULB students who worked on AGYA's project.

Students do not get to choose which client they are assigned to, but I think I can definitely speak for the team when I say we felt very lucky to be able to work on the AGYA project. Something we loved about AGYA from the beginning was that we felt they were really making a difference in people's lives; that they had invested their entire heart and soul into AGYA. We could also see that AGYA had a competitive edge in the business world, being one of the only organizations that was not only lead by native Youth, but also focused on providing creative programs to foster self expression and empowerment.

Some people see graphic design as a very corporate enterprise, or- like in the advertising world- as a skill that is used to fool or take advantage of the public. Really though in my mind, graphic design is about creating personalities. It's about helping people and businesses express themselves to their fullest potential. This is what we were excited to do for AGYA. AGYA had done an amazing job of garnering public attention. It was now time to take their design to the next level in the form of a new website and a new logo that could not only hold their own against competitor businesses and look great, but communicate effectively.

We did this first with a logo re-design (see picture above). The team consolidated the many ideas of AGYA's original logo into a simplified form containing images of the ankh, the African continent, and light rays. We paired this imagery with clear strong text and a memorable purple color to set AGYA apart from other African non-profits. We felt this logo was representative of strength and hope while also being trustworthy and professional. We took these emotional ideals and applied them to the second part of the project: the website (http://www.agyainternational.org). Working in tandem with the current blog presence, we created a professional and informative 'face' of AGYA that would be easily modified to make room for new content as AGYA expands. We also focused on showcasing the AGYA social-media outlets in order to spread the word and communicate with AGYA supporters.

Overall working for AGYA was an amazing experience. Divinity was a great client who challenged us to find the best design solution and really had a vision for where AGYA should be headed. Our Workshop team not only got a great education in working with real-life clients and businesses, but also about global issues, finding passion in your work, and having a heart for humanity. I think the entire team got a lot more out of this experience than just how to design a logo and a website... and we have Divinity and AGYA to thank for that! We hope AGYA enjoys the new logo and website, and that we have been able to help them continue to make a difference in communities both in Uganda and in the United States! Thank you!

Carolyn and the AGYA Workshop Team

Administrative Internship With AGYA (June 5 Deadline)

2011-05-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

AGYA is in need of an Administrative Intern who can commit 12 hours per week for a period of 10 weeks beginning June 13, ending August 19. This is an unpaid internship.

The Administrative Intern will work on projects related to AGYA's four Core Programs: Free Lunch Program, Girls Program, After-School Program, and International Volunteer Program.

Requirements:

• Passionate about the youth role in global social change

• Excellent English grammar skills

• Excellent writing and research skills

• Outgoing and self-motivated

• Must be able to work independently to achieve measurable goals

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or Mac OS

Benefits

• Letter of Recommendation from AGYA's Executive Director upon successful completion of Internship

• Amazing opportunity to contribute to an organization making a big impact at the grassroots level in Uganda

Intern can work from home but will be required to conduct bi-weekly phone and/or Skype meetings with AGYA's Executive Director.

If you are interested, email resume to AGYA's Executive Director: divinity@agyainternational.org by the deadline: June 5. Telephone interviews will be conducted the week of June 6th. Internship begins Monday, June 13, 2011.

Help AGYA Win A StayClassy Award for Small Charity of the Year!

2011-05-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

AGYA has been nominated for Small Charity of the Year, an award available to a nonprofit organization with annual revenue less than $250,000 that, despite its modest size, has a major positive impact on the world around it. AGYA certainly qualifies as we have impacted the lives of more than 1,000 people living in urban poverty in Uganda with limited resources.

In order to move on to the next round of the competition, organized by StayClassy, AGYA needs to get at least 100 Facebook "Likes" on our Nomination Achievement. The deadline to reach the 100 Facebook "Likes" mark is June 28th.

To help AGYA get one step closer to being named Small Charity of the Year, all you need to do is:

Go to: http://www.stayclassy.org/stories/agya-makes-big-impact-by-giving-power-to-ugandan-youth
Click the "Like" icon next to the text AGYA Makes Big Impact By Giving Power to Ugandan Youth
Share the link with your social networks, family, friends, and colleagues.

3rd Annual Service Learning Trip With USC Students Set For July 2011

2011-04-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

This summer, as part of our service-learning volunteer trips initiative, AGYA will welcome several student volunteers from the University of Southern California. This is the third year that AGYA has hosted students from USC through a strategic partnership with RAYSE (Rise of African Youth through Self Empowerment). These ambitious college students will spend 4 weeks living and working at the AGYA Community Learning Center in Nabulagala. They will teach daily classes and workshops at AGYA's Community Center, volunteer at an elementary school and a local orphanage, undergo intensive Luganda language training, participate in cultural excursions, and collaborate with student leaders from Makerere University, Uganda's premiere 4-year degree granting institution of higher education.

The students, profiled here, all come from all different backgrounds and academic majors. In Uganda, they will teach a variety of workshops including: dance, film, music recording and production, storytelling.

Bijou Nguyen

Bijou is a freshman at USC majoring in History. In her free time, she likes taking pictures, hanging out with friends and family, laughing, traveling and meeting new people. She is looking forward to a month full of adventures and fun! She is the oldest of four and she loves animals. At AGYA, Bijou will work collaboratively with AGYA youth leader, Mathias Sseremba, to teach a visual arts class.

Brett Zimmerman

Brett is a Junior at USC studying International Relations and Business. He is a 20 year old from Irvine, California. He is excited to go to Uganda to work with AGYA because this is something he has always wanted to do. Brett loves to write and he hopes to teach children new styles of creative writing. At AGYA, Brett will work collaboratively with fellow volunteer Erik Peterson and 16 year old AGYA facilitator, Racheal Nankya. Racheal, Erik and Brett will teach storytelling and creative writing to children.

Dionne Licudine

Dionne is a junior majoring in International Relations and Political Science. She is the captain of the USC Women's Varsity Rowing Team. She would like to be a human rights lawyer, be in politics in the future and help change the world for the better in any way she can. Her favorite pastime is dancing as she is trained in classical ballet, hip hop and modern dance. She loves to travel around the world, meet new people and learn about different cultures. Dionne has volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Help Center for many years and served as a summer volunteer English tutor in an orphanage in the Philippines as well. She looks forward to working at AGYA because it is a dream come true for her to be able to serve and volunteer in Uganda. It would be a great opportunity for her to give back more and share her talents to others in another country. Dionne says "I am sure that working at AGYA will be an unforgettable experience." At AGYA, Dionne will work collaboratively with AGYA youth facilitator, Bosco Kirabira to teach a hip-hop dance class.

Erik Peterson

Erik is a 20 year old Pre-Med student. After traveling to many countries throughout Europe and South America and teaching English in Italy, Erik is ecstatic at the opportunity to meet and befriend all of the AGYA youth in Kampala. He has played violin professionally for 10 years and is very interested in music, storytelling, theater, medicine, biology and science. At AGYA, Erik will work collaboratively with fellow volunteer Brett Zimmerman and 16 year old AGYA facilitator, Racheal Nankya. Racheal, Erik and Brett will teach storytelling and creative writing to children.

Mea Tsutsuse

Mea is a 20 year old sophomore studying Philosophy and Peace and Conflict Studies, but her interest lies in learning about the world and its numerous cultures. Mea loves to swim, paint, write, read, cook, and spend time with her friends and family. At college, Mea spends her free time working with children in Los Angeles, tutoring, playing, and building strong relationships. She is excited to meet everyone at AGYA and begin her journey together towards self-empowerment. At AGYA, Mea will work collaboratively with AGYA youth leader, Kazibwe Nelson, to teach improv theater.

Sean Kim

Sean is a Junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in 3D Animation. In Uganda, Sean will contribute his technical skills to AGYA's "Recording Our Dreams" Studio Project. This will be Sean's first service trip out of the Americas and he is really excited to teach recording arts. At AGYA, Sean will work collaboratively with AGYA youth leader, Mulinde Kenneth, to teach music production.

Taylor Segal

Taylor is a Sophomore studying Cinema Production. She is excited to teach a film appreciation class with Ugandan youth. In her free time, Taylor loves to read, watch movies, eat, laugh, travel, and go on adventures of all sorts! She also loves dance and music…she says Beyonce is her idol! At AGYA, Taylor will work collaboratively with AGYA youth facilitator, Mubiru Bonny, to teach a class on film production.

Jordan Vieira

Jordan is double-majoring in political science and social science education with a minor in cultural anthropology at USC. Jordan spent much of his childhood in the California mountain community of Three Rivers, which is located about five miles away from Sequoia National Park, home to the world’s largest trees. This is where Jordan developed his love for learning about the world and the people in it. Jordan, a devout Christian, feels that nothing in the world is coincidental; everything has a purpose and serves to bring us closer to the intangible through some physical shape or form. Life is what we make of it, and Jordan strives everyday to help make his life meaningful and fulfilling. At AGYA, Jordan will work with Nansubuga Shamira, to teach workshops that explore culture through popular films.

Barton Prideaux

Barton was born in Austin, Texas and now lives in Los Angeles where he attends the University of Southern California. He is the oldest of 5 kids and is very grateful for the family and childhood that he has had. He loves attending college at USC and really enjoys learning about Economics and International Relations. Outside of class, Barton enjoys running, swimming and various other sports. At AGYA, Barton will work collaboratively with AGYA youth leader, Sseguya Brian, to teach a class on Business Skills and Entrepreneurship.

Youth Voices: Juma Kawesi On How His Fellow Youth, Kawera Enoch Introduced Him to AGYA

2011-04-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

My name is Kawesi Juma. I am a 19 year old b-boy and I do breakdancing at AGYA. Last year, I was a Youth Leader in charge of the Free Lunch Program. Right now, I am the Assistant Facilitator of the b-boy class.

Above: A short clip of Juma practicing his dance moves

Before i joined the organization, I wasn't the Juma you are seeing or hearing now. I was too stubborn, shy and i never wanted to associate with my fellow youths. I wasn't caring about others. I never thought about the next step of my life because I was a kind of a youth who used to think that tomorrow I might be in jail because the peers i used to be with were illiterate and we always struggled for something to eat. But always a friend in need is a friend in deed. This friend I am talking about is none other than Kawera Enoch. He had joined AGYA before me. One day, he approached me and told me about the aims of the organization and i really felt so touched. I asked him how it benefits and he told me that it benefits nothing because its a non profitable organization. I told him that I would think about it.

Two days later, I came with Kawera at AGYA and i was registered with the organization. After that time until today, I do not regret the day i met Kawera because he introduced me to AGYA, the organization which changed my life.

Above: Juma (left) with fellow youth dancer Jepheth Mutuuza (right).

THIS POST GOES OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY DON'T HAVE MERITS TO THEIR LIVES. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE AGYA CO-FOUNDERS ABRAHAM AND DIVINITY MATOVU WHO ACCEPTED THERE DREAMS AND MADE THEM TRUE.

LONG LIVE AGYA.

Top 10 Ways to Support AGYA

2011-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

We often get asked, how can I help? How can I support AGYA? Well, in March, we counted down via our Facebook and Twitter pages the top 10 ways you can support AGYA. Here are the top 10 ways you can support counted down again!

1. Make a donation here: http://www.stayclassy.org/charity/agya-international/c5297 OR visit our Blog and click the yellow donate link in the right sidebar OR mail a check to AGYA International, 1620 Centinela Ave, Suite 303, Inglewood CA 90302 USA

2. Become an International Volunteer, travel to Uganda and teach workshops with children or youth! We have hosted more than 60 volunteers from 5 countries...could you be next? Get more details here: http://amagezigemaanyi.blogspot.com/p/volunteer.html

3. Donate your airline miles! We can accept miles from every airline, including Delta, American Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and more

4. Volunteer your professional skills for GOOD by becoming an AGYA Intern in one of the following areas: Accounting, Grant-writing/Research, Fundraising, Graphic Design, and Curriculum Development. Interns can work remotely & must commit to 10 weeks. Interested? E-mail resume & cover letter to AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Barkley Matovu at divinity@agyainternational.org

5. Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/agya_africa If you are already following us, shout us out with an @agya_africa mention so we can build our Twitter fan base

6. Make a donation to SEND A GIRL TO SCHOOL and indicate "Girl Program" in the memo. $100 pays 1 year of school fees for elementary school girl, $250 pays 1 year of school fees for middle/high-school girl. Donate by:

contribute online here http://www.stayclassy.org/charity/agya-international/c5297
click the yellow donate link on the sidebar of this webpage
mail a check to AGYA International, 1620 Centinela Ave, Suite 303, Inglewood CA 90302 USA

7. Send us your used items! Instead of throwing away your old cell phone or digital camera, consider donating it to AGYA! For our full wish list visit: http://amagezigemaanyi.blogspo t.com/p/get-involved-with-agya .html

8. Sign up to donate your change to AGYA via SwipeGood. Just go to http://swipegood.com/charity/a gya-international, sign up your card and at the end of each month, SwipeGood will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, and donate the change to AGYA. You can also cap your monthly donations, so you‘re in complete control of the amount of money you donate each month.

9. Organize a bake sale, car wash, fashion show, art auction, poetry show, supply drive, or a dance party benefiting AGYA. Get creative!!! Before your event, contact us (amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com) to request hand-outs. After your event, contact us to make arrangements to send us the collected items or the money you raised.

10. Invite a Friend to Join Our Facebook Family. Do this by:

suggesting AGYA's page to friends
send the link facebook.com/agya.africa and tell people in your network to "Like" it
share the page on your Facebook Wall and/or Newsfeed

AGYA Co-Founders Attend TOMS Shoes "One Day Without Shoes" on 5 April 2011

2011-04-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

On 5 April 2011, AGYA Co-Founders Abraham Matovu and Divinity Barkley Matovu participated in "One Day Without Shoes," the global awareness-raising event hosted by TOMS Shoes, a for-profit company that uses an innovative one-to-one business model. For every shoe TOMS sells, the company gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need. One Day Without Shoes challenges TOMS customers to take off their shoes for a day in order to raise awareness about kids all over the world who cannot afford shoes.

Divinity and Abraham decided to participate in the event after learning about it from former AGYA volunteer, Joey Borgogna, a TOMS customer.

Above: Divinity and Abraham with Joey shoeless on 5 April 2011.

AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Barkley Matovu said: "As people who work in a country where many kids cannot afford shoes, participating in this event really meant a lot to Abraham and I. We have witnessed some of the youth we work with get sent home from school because they did not have on proper shoes. We have seen kids walking through muddy, unpaved roads during Uganda's rainy season with no shoes or wearing flip flops that are not proper for the weather conditions. One Day Without Shoes is a fantastic initiative and we are so honored to be a part of this."

After spending the day without shoes, Divinity and Abraham attended a special celebration in Santa Monica, California where they had the chance to meet TOMS Founder and Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie (see photo below).

Blake was also recently featured as ABC News "Person of the Week" where he explained the TOMS philosophy and the concept behind One Day Without Shoes. Check out the footage here:

Youth Voices: AGYA Co-Founder Matovu Abraham Attends Clinton Global Initiative University Conference in San Diego

2011-04-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

AGYA Country Director and Co-Founder, Abraham Matovu, attended the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) Meeting in San Diego, California during the weekend of April 1-3, 2011.

Hosted at the University of California at San Diego by Former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, the conference highlighted 5 areas: education, energy & climate change, global health, peace & human rights, and poverty alleviation. President Clinton emphasized the importance young people to develop and implement innovative, sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges (http://www.cgiu.org/).

At the Conference, Abraham had the unique opportunity to network, share, and learn from global youth activists and college students from the United States and more than 90 other nations. Abraham attended sessions on grassroots community engagement and education: pathways and opportunities for adolescents.

Abraham had the opportunity to update CGIU members about Recording Our Dreams, AGYA's 2010 "CGIU Commitment to Action" which is in the process of establishing a solar-powered recording studio that will economically and artistically empower Ugandan youth. Abraham was interviewed by NBC San Diego on Day 1 of the Conference, and on Day 2, he had the opportunity to connect with Liberian youth activist Kimmie Weeks of Youth Action International, Inc.

Abraham wrote the following piece about his experience at CGIU 2011:

It was my first time at the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference. I came to San Diego with no expectations, but it was very amazing to see what other young people are doing to change the world. Sitting in a room of more than 1,000 young people, all determined to change the world in a positive way, made me feel like I am part of a global movement of selfless, creative people. I also felt like there is so much more work to be done.

I was inspired to see what President Clinton is doing because he has travelled all over the world and has been the President of the United States, but he still wants to help people living in poverty, people without access to healthcare. The Conference also made me reflect on life. Seeing my fellow African young people at CGIU made me realize that the world is a small place; that whatever you do in countries like Uganda or Kenya or wherever, you are still helping people all over the world. Being at the CGIU Conference also made me realize that the only way you can be happy is to make someone happy. I am just one piece in the puzzle for change and I want to do this work for the rest of my life.

AGYA Co-Founders Give Keynote Address at MIAD's Service Learning Symposium, Radio Interview at WUMM 89.7

2011-04-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

On March 25, 2011, AGYA Co-Founders Abraham Matovu and Divinity Barkley Matovu were honored to give the keynote address at the 10th Annual Service Learning Symposium hosted by the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD).

Divinity and Abraham (pictured above at MIAD) spoke to community leaders, campus administrators, and students with majors ranging from photography to sculpture and design. As MIAD's first keynote speakers with an international focus, Divinity and Abraham discussed how AGYA is using the arts to economically and artistically empower young people in urban Uganda. The presentation also highlighted the interconnectedness of passion and community service.

Following the official symposium, Divinity and Abraham enjoyed lunch with MIAD President, Neil Hoffman and Leslie Fedorchuk, a MIAD Professor and Director of the Service Learning Program.

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Above: AGYA Co-Founders with MIAD President, Neil Hoffman.

Below: AGYA Co-Founders with Ben Rothschild, Assistant Director - MIAD Service Learning Program and Leslie Fedorchuk, Director - MIAD Service Learning.

Divinity and Abraham also had the opportunity to connect with radio presenter Bonnie North (pictured below) who works as the Arts Producer at WUMW 89.7, a non-commercial public radio station committed to serving listeners in southeastern Wisconsin, with quality news, public affairs and entertainment programming.

During the radio interview, Divinity and Abraham discussed their vision for AGYA and their belief that artistic enrichment is the most effective way to transform the lives of youth living in urban poverty in Uganda. The radio interview will be posted online soon!

AGYA Executive Director Visits Ethiopia - Conducts Informal Needs Assessment With Urban Youth

2011-04-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

From March 21-23, 2011, AGYA Co-Founder and Executive Director, Divinity Barkley Matovu, visited Ethiopia where she met with several youth living in Addis Ababa, the urban capital of Ethiopia. While there, Divinity was hosted by 28 year old Robel Alawi, a native of Harar, Ethiopia who works part-time as a travel guide for international visitors. Robel also works with an organization that provides basic care for orphans, street children, and homeless youth who live in abject poverty in Addis Ababa.

Above: Divinity & Robel have lunch at Ethiopia's National Museum in Addis Ababa while discussing potential solutions to the challenges facing urban African youth.

Below: Divinity Barkley Matovu, AGYA's Executive Director, outside of Addis Ababa University's Institute for Ethiopian Studies - the former site of Emperor Haile Sellassie's Main Palace.

After conducting an informal needs assessment with Robel and observing the lifestyle of several young people living in urban poverty, Divinity strongly believes that Addis Ababa is a viable location for a new AGYA Community Center. Our goal is that, by 2020, AGYA will be operating 5 additional community centers in major urban African cities that will train and mobilize 10,000 youth to use performing and media arts as a platform to advocate for education, economic development and social change in their communities.

In order to explore this opportunity further, Divinity will return to Addis Ababa in June 2011 with AGYA's Uganda Country Director, Abraham Matovu to conduct a formal needs assessment and meet with several youth, NGO, and community leaders whose support, linguistic skills, and knowledge of local trends will be instrumental to the decision to expand AGYA's model in Ethiopia.

Youth Voices: AGYA Girls Teen Shamirah Nansubuga On Finding A Family In AGYA

2011-03-26T02:24:00.000-07:00

Before I joined AGYA, I didn’t know what goals and having dreams in life meant. I joined AGYA the day it started in 2008, and I was happy to be a part of everything that was going on in AGYA.

The environment and the people were positive and I felt that it was the place I was longing for. I got to learn things I never thought I would get a chance of knowing in life.

I was given the opportunity to lead my fellow youth in photography workshops. I didn’t know much about photography but AGYA gave me the chance to try it out with the little knowledge that I had. This gave me the courage to do the best that I knew.

Above: Shamira controls a professional camera during a workshop with NY-based filmmaker, Skinner Meyers at AGYA's Community Center in Uganda.

I felt responsible, honored and privileged to be sharing knowledge with my fellow youths. Through this I was able to discover my goals and to see that I have got dreams in life.

I had lost hope in my education because I had dropped out of school for a year because my mom could not afford to pay my fees. But AGYA was able to put me back to school through the AGYA Girls "Adopt-A-Scholar" project with Delta Sigma Theta. This year is my second year to be sponsored. I will graduate from high school next year, and hopefully, go on to study in University.

At AGYA, I have a family that cares about me, wishes the best for me, and loves me. I found hope in AGYA and I feel it’s my life time commitment. Thanks to Maama Divinity and Uncle Ibra, the co-founders of AGYA for their wonderful spirit that they have for people like us. We really do appreciate all of the opportunities AGYA brings in our lives.

Youth Voices: Bboys Kawera and Derrick Write About AGYA's Impact in Their Lives

2011-03-19T00:39:00.000-07:00

My name is Ssembajjwe Derrick Blusarino, I am 19 years old and I would like to share with you something about Talent. Before I discovered that I could be a bboy, I used to involve myself in a lot of negative stuff just like any other youth living in the ghetto. I had no hope for the future because I didn’t even ever take time to think about it. I lived a very wasteful life style and associated myself with negative people.

I am glad to write that today I realized my true self when I joined AGYA in 2009. A friend introduced me to AGYA and ever since the first day I came to AGYA, I have witnessed a lot of positive change within me.

(above: Derrick performing a dance routine at the Annual Hip-Hop For Society Event)

The way I used to see things has changed, I have learnt to appreciate, associate and share. AGYA has been my turning point in life because I have transitioned from that rebellious ghetto boy into a responsible and respectful young man. Through AGYA I have improved my talent and dancing skills.

I even teach other youth who come to practice dance at AGYA. I feel my dancing career is being uplifted and I can now determine a bright future because I know it’s there for me if I continue to work hard and develop my talent.

Through dance I have been linked to big dance projects like Break-dance Project Uganda (BPU), Dance Together Uganda (DTU)), Sixstel International Foundation and Kyuka Youth Outreach. I have showcased on different platforms including Hip-Hop For Society organized by BPU, Hip-hop Expo organized by AGYA, Dance Week Uganda and Jump Youth Explosion among others.

All thanks go to the AGYA board, Divinity & Abraham Matovu for all the support they put in the struggle of developing young people through shaping their careers. I personally have been provided a platform where I have been able to express myself creatively in a very positive manner.

I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO LIVE MY DREAM OF HAVING A SUCCESSFUL DANCING CAREER. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GHETTOES TO STAY POSITIVE AND HAVE HOPE.

I LOVE YOU ALL.

My name is Kawera Enock SSekandi; I am 19 years old and I am a bboy. I joined AGYA in 2009 and it’s where I started my dance career. Before I joined AGYA, I used to spend my time with useless groups, I associated myself with street fights and clubbing. I thought that was the best way to live my life. I realized this kind of life was leading me nowhere when some of my friends were arrested over drugs. I decided to look for a better thing I could do to keep myself away from wasteful, time-consuming activities.

(Above: Kawera (right) working on editing film footage of a dance performance with another AGYA member)

The path of my life changed when a friend told me about AGYA. AGYA is a place where I have learnt leadership skills, dance skills among others. I was appointed as a youth leader at AGYA in 2010, and I will remember that opportunity for all my life time because it was the most educative part of my youth.

My advice to fellow youth is that they should be patient, yearn for knowledge and take chances when they come. Dreams come true if you can always give them a new beginning. Special thanks go to our Directors, Mr. & Mrs. MATOVU for the life and opportunities they are giving to young people like me.

Professional Musicians To Teach Recording Our Dreams Workshops in AGYA Studio

2011-03-12T23:34:00.000-08:00

AGYA is excited to announce that acclaimed music producer David Mukalazi and established rap emcee Simon “Mon MC” Ssemwogere will be facilitating daily workshops at AGYA’s Recording Our Dreams Studio. These professional musicians, who bring a combined 25 years of experience in Uganda’s music industry, will be sharing their talent and skills with Ugandan youth.

Mukalazi has considered himself a musician since the age of 10 when he began playing the piano and guitar. By the time he was 18, Mukalazi was writing songs, had created his own live band, and was directing the African Children’s Choir. Mukalazi made the transition from live music to the studio in the mid 1990s. He is widely recognized as the first person to produce a rap record in Uganda in 1995 when Ugandan hip-hop was still in its infancy.

As a trailblazer in Uganda’s music industry, Mukalazi (pictured here playing keyboard during a live performance) is credited for production work on more than 60 albums during the course of his career.

After years of working in the for-profit sector of the entertainment business, Mukalazi is ready to explore his passion which is helping young people develop their musical talents. Mukalazi is the perfect choice to lead the implementation of the Recording Our Dreams curriculum which is a 16 week intensive training course developed by AGYA Co-Founder Divinity Barkley Matovu.

Under Mukalazi’s leadership, AGYA youth will learn how to operate studio equipment, use software programs, and begin beat production. By the time they complete the training course, students will be equipped with the basic knowledge and skills to teach others and pursue job opportunities with AGYA’s studio and other commercial studios in Uganda. The students will also work towards recording a compilation album which they will market via social networks and sell on iTunes.

Simon Ssemwogerere aka Mon MC is a professional rap emcee from Kampala. Rapping exclusively in his native tongue, Luganda, and infusing traditional African musicology into his style, Mon MC believes that rap music is the best way that he can educate the global community about issues facing people in Uganda. Mon MC has been rapping for more than 10 years. He has performed at more than 500 live shows throughout East Africa including a benefit concert for children suffering from HIV/AIDS at Mulago Hospital in Uganda. Mon MC is the first Ugandan rap artist to have a music video featured on Black Entertainment Television (BET). With songs like “It’s Never Too Late To Fight AIDS,” which was inspired by Mon MC’s mother who lost her battle with HIV/AIDS in 1997, Mon MC’s music is truly educational, uplifting and inspirational.

Mon MC (far left pictured above with AGYA youth Rodrigo and Nelson at AGYA's 2010 Hip-Hop Expo) will be volunteering as a guest lecturer on hip-hop performance and technique at the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA) as part of the Recording Our Dreams Studio Project. His mentorship and guidance will be beneficial to all of the youth who will be working on their first compilation album.

Please stay tuned for more exciting updates from Recording Our Dreams!

New York Based Filmmaker Shares His Thoughts on AGYA, Uganda

2011-03-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

My trip to Africa was birthed out of a desire to go to a place where I had never been before and do something that I never dreamed possible.

I came to know AGYA Co-Founders, Divinity and Abraham through USC student Hayley Pappas. Hayley had been interning for Joey Borgogna at Creative Visions Foundation, which is sponsoring the documentary. She had nothing but great things to say about Divinity, Abraham, and AGYA.

I had no idea what to expect in Africa. I remember stepping off the plane and thinking to myself I’m in the motherland, the cradle of civilization. As an African-American man I was dazed and confused the first few days. The idea that I was on the same continent that some of my ancestors lived on was hard for me to wrap my head around for about a week.

We were picked up from the airport by Abraham and a few youth leaders from AGYA. We drove about an hour before we arrived at the slums. I was amazed at how so many people could live crammed onto such a small piece of land.

The first day at AGYA’s Community Center was wild! It seemed as if the whole village descended upon AGYA to greet us. It was definitely a great way to be introduced to everyone. We were teamed up with Happy Namutebi who served as our interpreter for the teen mothers who participated in the documentary film. Happy was amazing! She had such a powerful story and, as we got to know one another better, I let her take the helm when it came to the interviews we conducted in Luganda. She knew exactly what I was looking for and was a very integral part in helping me and the rest of the film crew communicate with the young women we interviewed.

The hospitality shown to us by everyone was overwhelming. People were very keen on getting to know us and it felt good for me that my team and I were able to lead some filmmaking workshops so that we could pass on our skills to the kids of AGYA.

It took me a while to adjust to no longer being a minority amongst others. In Uganda, there were people who looked like me everywhere although we did not share the same culture or language. Interestingly enough, most people assumed I was Ethiopian! Everywhere I went people greeted me with a smile and a “how are you?” It was a lot to soak in and I think it will take me a month or so to process the experience. Like other African-Americans in the United States, having a sense of belonging eluded me for most of my life. I am a mixture of multiple ethnicities and do possess a desire to seek out my ancestors from the multiple countries they came from, but because my skin color is brown, I am viewed a particular way in the United States. This has made me want to connect more with my African heritage than any other heritage I may be made up from.

I told most of the kids that whether they realized it or not they had something that many people in the United States didn’t have. They had joy and hope. It didn’t matter what their circumstance were like. I also told them that for the first time in my adult life I felt stress free. I’m not sure if many of them understood what I was trying to articulate, but I felt a freedom in being in Uganda that I have yet to feel in the States.

During the 2 weeks I spent in Uganda, I was on a rollercoaster of emotions. On my last day in the country, when I told everyone at AGYA that I was leaving a piece of my heart behind with all the children and youth, I was sincere. It will take me a while to understand everything that happened to me while I was in Uganda and somehow I have to find a way to reconnect to my world in the U.S. which now seems so different. But I know that no matter what happens, I now have a new family in Uganda and for that I’m truly grateful.

****************

The above piece was written by Skinner Myers, a documentary filmmaker from New York whose film “This Woman’s Work” focuses on the challenges and triumphs of teen mothers in Uganda. Skinner and his film crew spent 2 weeks at AGYA where they filmed their documentary and taught a film workshop with 15 Ugandan youth. In addition to raising awareness about teenage pregnancy in Uganda, the film crew responsible for "This Woman's Work" will work collaboratively with AGYA to establish a fund for the girls featured in the film. The fund will be managed by AGYA and will help the mothers send their children to school and provide support for nutritional and medical needs.

Above: Skinner with Aisha and here baby, Shakira.

Above: Aisha, one of the teen mothers featured in "This Woman's Work" holds her baby, Shakira after a long day of filming.

Above: AGYA Co-Founder, Divinity Barkley Matovu, being interviewed by Skinner and his film crew in Uganda.

Above: Skinner looks on as AGYA youth member Shamirah Nansubuga practices filming during a film workshop at AGYA's Community Center.

Here is a short video clip featuring Skinner and some members of his crew during their time in Uganda:

You can learn more about “This Woman’s Work” here http://www.creativevisions.org/projects/ugan-afr-amer.html

AGYA Executive Director Contributes to Just BE Cause, a Book About Social Entrepreneurship

2011-03-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

Just BE Cause is an e-book that will provide meaningful ideas and resources to social entrepreneurs, specifically those optimistic go-getters who make up Generation Y better known as Millenials. AGYA is excited to announce that our very own Co-Founder and Executive Director, Divinity Barkley Matovu has been selected to contribute to the book. As a contributor, Divinity joins leaders from organizations like The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs, StartingBloc, Ashoka and Catchafire who share their ideas, experiences, and viewpoints on subjects ranging from sustainability to microfinance, authenticity to creative fundraising.

The brain behind Just BE Cause is Syreeta Gates, a 23 year old social entrepreneur from Queens, New York. Syreeta is the founder of The SWT Life (pronounced “Sweet”), a company that maximizes the likelihood of success for young innovators by providing entrepreneurial coaching, personal development training, and exposure to successes in the arts, entertainment and business. As a news source, incubator for, and purveyor of urban youth culture, it is poised to be the most influential brand for the millennial generation.

Syreeta and Divinity originally connected in May 2010 when Divinity was named as a top 15 finalist for the $100,000 DoSomething Award. Divinity and Syreeta re-connected in New York in November 2010 when both young women were honored by Glamour Magazine as one of the top 20 Amazing Young Women Who Are Already Changing The World.

“With so much in common, it made sense that Syreeta and I would collaborate in some way. Our synergy is amazing, and I really admire the work Syreeta is doing to empower young people in the United States,” says Divinity. “It is such an honor and a privilege to have my voice included in the Just BE Cause project, an electronic book which speaks directly to Millenials, a group of people who believe, with every fiber of our soul, that we have the ability and the potential to create social change and make our world a better place.”

Each contributor will have the opportunity to drive sales of the book. For each book that Divinity sells, 50% of the profits will be donated to AGYA. The book is expected to be published in Summer 2011. Follow @justbecausebook on Twitter for the most recent updates.

AGYA Now Raising Money with SwipeGood

2011-02-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

AGYA has teamed up with SwipeGood, a company that helps nonprofit organizations make fundraising more efficient. Here’s how it works:

Go to http://swipegood.com/charity/agya-international
Sign up your card
At the end of each month, SwipeGood will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, and donate the change to AGYA.
You can also cap your monthly donations, so you‘re in complete control of the amount of money you donate each month.

"To make giving easier we wanted to eliminate the main three decision points people have: deciding how much to give, deciding when to give, and deciding who to give to," said Steli Efti, Member of the SwipeGood Team.

"People can donate to AGYA every time they go grocery shopping or eat out in a restaurant, basically helping to empower, educate and enrich the lives of vulnerable children and youth in Uganda every time they spend money."

So the next time you're at the checkout counter, think about the difference your pennies can make. By making a tax-deductible donating through SwipeGood, you can turn the spare change for every purchase into an opportunity to help Ugandan youth gain access to arts education and leadership skills.

Girls Program Updates

2011-02-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

Its only February but 2011 has already been an exhilarating year for the AGYA Girls Program. Firstly, the Girls Program is announcing the 10 high-school girls who have been selected to receive scholarships this year. Scholarship funds are provided by AGYA’s partner, the Century City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. We are honored to inform our supporters that, after a competitive application process, the following AGYA Girls will receive full-year academic scholarships from AGYA:

Above: Scholarship recipients with AGYA Co-Founder Divinity Barkley Matovu.

Above: 1st time scholar, Noeline Mukisa

Above: 1st time scholar, Flavia Nakatudde

Above: 2nd time scholar, Shamira Naiga

Above: 1st time scholar: Sarah Nanono

Above: 2nd time scholar, Shamirah Nansubuga

Above: 1st time scholar: Shakirah Namatovu

Above: 2nd time scholar, Racheal Nankya

Above: 1st time scholar, Faridah Nanziri

Above: 2nd time scholar, Aisha Kyebakkuwadde

In a special display of sisterly affection, AGYA Girls Scholar Sharon Naluwagga has decided to forfeit her scholarship to benefit newcomer Jackie Kasiime who lost her mother on February 9, 2011. The death of her mother has left Jackie as an orphan. In addition to paying Jackie's school fees, AGYA plans to provide for her other needs such as housing, food, clothing, etc.

Above: 1st time scholar, Jackie Kasiime

In other news, Happy Namutebi has taken on the role of leading the Girls Program. After only five weeks in her current position, Happy has done an excellent job keeping the AGYA Girls on track for their e-curriculum with their mentors from Delta Sigma Theta.

Above: Happy gets trained on Microsoft Excel with Volunteer Jordyn Wells at AGYA's Community Center.

Above: Happy facilitates a meeting with mothers of the AGYA Girls Scholars.

Above: AGYA Girls Scholar Racheal with her mother at AGYA's Community Center.

Above: AGYA Girls Scholar Shakirah with her mother at AGYA's Community Center.

Above: Happy participates in a film workshop.

Happy has also been instrumental in the implementation of AGYA’s plan to expand the scope of the girls program which includes networking with local mentors within Kampala, enhanced computer skills development and outreach to girls living in Nabulagala and neighboring slums. Happy has also been working collaboratively with Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development to make sure that the AGYA Girls Program is in line with key target objectives for girls education and the Functional Adult Literacy program which teaches illiterate adults, with a focus on women, to read and write.

Thanks to Happy’s leadership, the Girls Program will be partnering with 10x10: EDUCATE GIRLS, CHANGE THE WORLD which is a multi-dimensional global action campaign that uses media to drive engagement around the proven fact that educating and empowering girls kick-starts a dramatic multiplier effect of change for their families, communities, and whole countries. AGYA is also exploring partnership with She’s The First, a not-for-profit helping girls worldwide be first in their family to graduate.

On February 5, 2011, the AGYA Girls Members attended a workshop/discussion at Kampala’s Imperial Royale Hotel. Organized by local women’s organization, MEMPROW, the inter-generational meeting featured discussion topics such as sexual reproductive health, social entrepreneurship, women in leadership, and education. With more than 150 women and teen girls present, the event was truly empowering and inspiring. After meeting with MEMPROW’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Hilda Tadria, AGYA plans to attend MEMPROW’s monthly discussions to gain access to information, resources, and local mentors.

Above: AGYA Girls outside of Kampala's Imperial Royale Hotel after the MEMPROW meeting.

AGYA will also be assisting a 4-person film crew from New York with their documentary, “This Woman’s Work” which takes an in-depth, comparative look at the daily struggles and triumphs of African-American and Ugandan teen mothers. This represents a unique opportunity for AGYA to give young Ugandan women the opportunity to share their stories and voice their views and opinions about the issue of teen pregnancy. When the film is completed later this year, AGYA will host a private screening for the participants and their families in Kampala. Additionally, AGYA will help to establish a fundraising campaign connected to the film – all monies raised will be distributed equally to the mothers to cater for their children’s educational, nutritional, and medical expenses.

If you would like to support scholarships for Ugandan girls by making a contribution to the AGYA Girls Program, please CLICK HERE to make an online donation via AGYA Co-Founder Divinity Barkley Matovu’s fundraising platform.

University Fund Advisory Board Members Announced

2011-02-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

Last month, we announced the creation of the AGYA University Fund, a savings account that will provide college-bound Ugandan youth with a sustainable source of financial aid. This month, we are announcing the names of the AGYA International Volunteer Program Alumni who have committed to serving on the Advisory Board of the University Fund.

As alumni of AGYA's International Volunteer Program, all of the Advisory Board Members are either college students or young professionals who have contributed to and experienced first-hand AGYA's work to empower, educate and enrich the lives of Ugandan youth.

This year, the Advisory Board will help AGYA raise money for the Fund and dedicate time to reviewing scholarship applications and making recommendations for scholarship awards. AGYA will begin offering scholarships in January 2012.

Nasra Mire, 25 years old
Volunteered with AGYA - May/June 2009, May 2010

Nasra is a youth empowerment advocate and experienced leadership facilitator based in Canada. She has spent five years within the non-profit and grassroots sector expanding her professional and personal experiences and developing platforms for experiential learning social programs.

As a first generation Canadian-Somali, Nasra has seen first-hand the impact and importance of conflict resolution and youth development. This has motivated Nasra to continue her work with immigrant and refugee youth both in Canada and East Africa. Nasra is the co-founder of Point Youth Media, one of AGYA's long-term partners that provides youth with media skills in Vancouver, BC and internationally.

Nasra is currently a student at University of Canada West where she is pursuing a degree in media and communications.

Natalia Maria Calderon, 22 years old
Volunteered with AGYA - June 2010

Natalia is a fourth year student at the University of Southern California studying Neuroscience and English literature. She plans to attend medical school in the future, and pursue her love of writing and photography. During her time volunteering with AGYA in Uganda, Natalia facilitated a poetry class, sharing the art of some of her favorite poets, including Walt Whitman and Czeslaw Milosz! Natalia's decision to join the advisory board was fueled by her love of education and her desire to help the amazingly talented youth of AGYA gain access to great opportunities. Natalia says "higher education is more than just a key to a future, it is the tool for empowerment of talented adolescent youth."

Derrius Lamar Quarles, 20 years old
Volunteered with AGYA - December 2010

Derrius is a sophomore at Morehouse College. As a Sociology major with a minor in Public Health and Economics he hopes to go to gain acceptance into an MD/PhD physician scientist program upon graduation with ambitions to one day work in global health, international public health policy, and health policy in his hometown, Chicago.

To help him achieve these academic and career ambitions, Derrius won more than $1.1 million in scholarships, including a full scholarship to attend Morehouse before graduating from Chicago’s Kenwood Academy High School with a 4.2 GPA. Derrius is a current Gates Millennium, Horatio Alger, Coca-Cola, and Dell Scholar. His financial-aid accomplishments have earned him the title “Million Dollar Scholar.” He has been a guest writer for the Scholarships.com blog and just recently authored the book MillionDollarScholar: Winning the Race For Financial-Aid. The book is geared toward helping high school students learn how to put together winning scholarship applications to help them fund their higher education.

Derrius' work with the AGYA University Fund Advisory Board will build on his passion of helping underprivileged youth gain access to higher education.

Amber Hogans, 21 years old
Volunteered with AGYA - June 2010

Amber is a senior at the University of Southern California (USC) working towards a degree in Accounting and a minor degree in Religious Studies. Upon graduation in December 2011, Amber plans to acquire her license to practice as a Certified Public Accountant.

Amber has always been passionate about giving back. In Summer 2010, she traveled to Uganda as an AGYA volunteer. She facilitated a workshop for youth which centered on leadership and professional development.

Amber is excited to be a member of the Advisory Board because she feels a duty to give someone the opportunity to better themselves in efforts to gain a better chance at life by being able to pursue higher education.

In regards to the youth at AGYA, Amber has seen firsthand the hunger and thirst for knowledge. She says "the youth are truly brilliant; but like anyone, they just need that extra academic polishing that a collegiate experience would provide. I pray that this scholarship fund grants many Ugandan youth that hope of a better future."

Lindsey Patin, 20 years old
Volunteered with AGYA - June 2010

Lindsey is a 3rd year student majoring in International Relations and Economics at the University of Southern California. She plans to go to law school and practice International Law when she graduates.

Lindsey decided to serve on the Advisory Board because she feels that the promotion of AGYA and its goals for empowerment of Ugandan youth is incredibly important for the growth and culture of the country of Uganda. She also wishes to be involved with AGYA while she is not in Uganda, and this is a way she can contribute time and energy for the good of AGYA.

Lindsey says "I think higher education is important because it gives the knowledge and tools that every person needs to take full advantage of the gifts they've been given and to make a change in their country and in the world with the highest level of education possible."

Marianna Singwi-Ferrono, 21 years old
Volunteered with AGYA - June 2009

Marianna is a Senior at the University of Southern California majoring in International Relations and a major in Spanish. Marianna attended public school at Evanston Township High School just outside of Chicago.

Next year, Marianna will be teaching in the Bay Area in a bilingual elementary school through Teach for America. She hopes to dedicate the rest of her life to fighting educational inequity both at home and in the international community

Marianna participated in the first USC RAYSE (The Rise of African Youth Through Self-Empowerment) service-learning trip to AGYA during the summer of 2009. She taught a world cultures class at AGYA and co-taught an arts program at Nabulagala Good Hope Elementary School.

Marianna joined the advisory board because she whole-heartedly believes in the potential of each Ugandan student at AGYA to succeed in higher-level education. Higher education not only gives students greater opportunities for occupational success but also allows them to develop their passions, hone their talents and explore their curiosity. I believe it is the fundamental right of each individual to have access to higher education and fulfill their potential as learners, teachers, and human beings.

Marianna says: "We should set our expectations high for each of these motivated and talented individuals because they are capable of nothing less than intellectual curiosity and greatness. The AGYA community is truly unique because the benefits of this scholarship will not stop at the individual recipient but instead will be paid forward to the women and youth of the AGYA community."

AGYA To Receive In-Kind Graphic/Web Design Services from Brand Workshop, California

2011-01-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

AGYA is proud to announce that, for the next 16 weeks, a group of students from California State University – Long Beach will be helping AGYA with branding and visual communication design services. The students are enrolled in CSULB’s Brand Workshop, which is lead by CSULB Professor Sunook Park, who is also the Creative Director of ANDLAB, Inc., a Los Angeles based cross-cultural branding consultancy.

The Brand Workshop meets twice weekly for an entire 16 week semester. During this time, students work on various projects that include branding and visual marketing concept development for corporations and non-profit organizations. AGYA has been selected as one of the non-profits that will receive brand consulting and web design services this year.

The AGYA Team is so excited to be working with Sunook and his students. Stay tuned for the launch of AGYA’s official website and the premiere of our new and improved branding strategy!

Above: AGYA Members Abraham, Gerald, and Joshua sending peace and love to the Brand Workshop and CSULB from Uganda!

To learn more about CSULB’s Brand Workshop, visit http://art.csulb.edu/workshop

Photo Gallery December 2010 - January 2011

2011-01-10T00:23:00.001-08:00

AGYA Co-Founders Visit Breakdance Project Uganda in Gulu

2010-12-21T03:03:00.000-08:00

On December 10th, AGYA Co-Founders Divinity and Abraham Matovu set off for a 3-day trip to Gulu, a city in Northern Uganda that borders Southern Sudan. Despite the rich history and culture of the Acoli people who make up the majority of the population, Gulu is most well-known as the site of a civil war between the Ugandan National Government and the Lord's Resistance Army (L.R.A.). For more than two decades, the LRA, a rebel group, terrorized the citizens of Gulu Town and surrounding villages. Although Northern Uganda is now stable and the fighting has ceased, the prolonged civil war divided families, displaced millions and led to the abduction and mutilation of tens of thousands of children which resulted in the deterioration of identity and culture.

When Divinity and Abraham received an invitation from Abramz Tekya, the Co-Founder of AGYA’s partner organization, Breakdance Project Uganda, they immediately accepted. Upon arriving in Gulu, Abraham was shocked to see that buildings and infrastructure were intact. Reflecting on his reaction, Abraham said:

“I have lived in Uganda all my life. I always wanted to come to Gulu, but I was afraid. Some non-profits make it seem like the war is still going on – that is simply not true. Because of what the media and some non-profits portray, I thought every kid I met would be a former child soldier and I expected to see demolished buildings and disfigured people everywhere I turned.

The reality is that the situation in Gulu is nowhere near as miserable and hopeless as the media makes it seem. Yes, there has been war and devastation, but people in these communities are living their lives like regular human beings. A significant amount of people are no longer living in refugee or IDP camps. Children are going back to school, and families are returning to their villages, their businesses, and rebuilding their lives.”

Although Divinity and Abraham were relieved to see the progress happening in Gulu, they also saw the dire need for arts-centered youth organizations like BPU to continue operating programs in the region. After observing the BPU workshops, Divinity said:

“BPU is doing an amazing job in both Kampala and Gulu. While there has been an influx of non-profits operating in Gulu within the last 10 years, many of them are completely out of touch with what the local people want and need. BPU is one of the few organizations in Gulu that is making a real, tangible impact using art, breakdancing and hip-hop culture to effect positive social change. Their free dance workshops empower, rehabilitate, and heal children who have been victims of the war in Northern Uganda. I am so honored to be partnering with BPU, and I am confident that AGYA can begin the process of expanding our programming to offer services to the youth population in Northern Uganda.”

About Breakdance Project Uganda: BPU is committed to empowering street kids, formerly abducted child soldiers and other disadvantaged children throughout Uganda using hip-hop and breakdance. Abramz Tekya is the subject of “Bouncing Cats,” an inspiring documentary that explores Tekya’s life experiences which inspired him to start BPU. Check out the trailer here!

Bouncing Cats Trailer from Bouncing Cats on Vimeo.

Visit: http://www.bouncingcats.com to find out how you can support BPU and learn about upcoming "Bouncing Cats" screenings in your area!

Here are some pictures from the Gulu trip!

AGYA Youth Leaders Honored at Young Achievers Awards

2010-12-03T23:17:00.000-08:00

On Friday, December 3, 2010 at Kampala’s beautiful Serena Hotel, AGYA Youth Leaders Sarah Mulekatete and Kenneth Mulinde (pictured below) were honored among a group of Uganda’s most promising young leaders.

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 61% of the population under the age of 25. It is critical for Uganda’s youth population to have access to the resources and skills that will empower them to become productive members of society who can contribute to Uganda’s progress. This is one of the reasons that AGYA decided to focus on youth ages 13-25 as our primary target population.

The Young Achievers Awards (YAA) is an initiative designed to showcase talent and reward innovation and excellence among young Ugandans who are contributing positively to their communities and national development. The event featured performances from some of Uganda’s most popular musicians and a speech by Uganda’s President, Yoweri K. Museveni who spoke about the potential of the youth population. The youth honorees were also able to network with some of Uganda's most influential people working in the private sector including representatives from UBC (Uganda Broadcasting Corporation), real estate company Kensington, Tullow Oil, telecommunication giant MTN Uganda, and the African Development Bank.

Although more than 5,000 nominations were cast, Sarah and Kenny placed as top 20 finalists in the Social Entrepreneurship Category.

Kenny was recognized for his work as a Youth Administrator and peer art teacher at AGYA. Sarah was recognized for her work as the Director of the AGYA Girls Program, which provides academic scholarships and mentorship for more than 15 teenage girls. Sarah was one of the few finalists to be profiled in the official program materials for the event. YAA saluted Sarah, who lost her mother during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, for being a positive role model for teen girls living in Uganda's urban slums.

We are so proud of Sarah and Kenny who represented AGYA with sophistication, flair, and professionalism. This recognition is truly a testament to AGYA’s focus on nurturing the growth and development of young leaders.

Here are some photos from the event:

Above: Kenny strikes a pose on the front porch of AGYA's Community Center before heading out to the event.

Above: Sarah and Kenny arrive at Kampala's Serena Hotel.

Above & Below: Kenny and Sarah at the pre-event Reception.

Above: Sarah and Kenny with Xenson, one of Uganda's most well-known fashion designers and graffiti artists.

Above: Sarah and Kenny connect with Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association Board Member, Rwakatale Barnabas during the pre-event Reception.

Above & Below: Sarah and Kenny on the red carpet!

Above: Sarah and Kenny pose with AGYA Co-Founder, Abraham Matovu

AGYA Co-Founder Talks to Clinton Global Initiative About Vision for "Recording Our Dreams" Studio

2010-11-28T23:51:00.001-08:00

AGYA Youth Artist Wins Grand Prize in Local Entrepreneurship Competition

2010-11-28T23:10:00.000-08:00

22-year old Arthur Mugume, a talented youth artist who facilitates art/painting workshops at AGYA's Community Center recently won 5 million Uganda Shillings (approximately $2,500 USD) in an Entrepreneurship Competition sponsored by St. Lawrence University in Uganda. Arthur won 3 gold medals for (1) Best Business Creativity, (2) Best Business Exhibition, and (3) Entrepreneur of the Year.

Arthur's entrepreneurial pursuits include: printing his designs on t-shirts and selling them for a profit and creating paintings which are marketed and sold locally for a profit. In the coming months, AGYA will help Arthur market his designs online through a unique blogspot where people from all over the world can browse available paintings and t-shirts and order online. In the meantime, if any of our supporters are interested in learning more about Arthur's work, you can contact him directly at arthur.mugume@yahoo.com

Arthur, who is currently studying Industrial Fine Art & Design at St. Lawrence University beat out 16 other competitors who pitched business ideas that were innovative, unique, and sustainable. Arthur's business proposal centered on using art as a tool to survive and make a living, an idea that is often criticized in a country where the only "serious" jobs are considered to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, etc. Arthur is challenging this notion with his vision for a private business sector where artists, musicians, actors/actresses, and dancers can thrive.

Above: Arthur facilitates an art workshop at AGYA

Arthur's nickname is Mr. Art and he feels that everyone needs art in their daily lives. He is committed to using his talent and skills to protect and promote the cultivation of art and culture in Uganda. Several of Arthur's paintings are displayed prominently in the main classroom of AGYA's Community Center, including this portrait which features AGYA Co-Founders Divinity and Abraham Matovu.

Above: Arthur works on the portrait.
Below: Arthur exhibits the completed portrait.

All of us at AGYA are so proud of Arthur and we wish him continued success.

At 6 Month Mark, AGYA Highlights Success of One Laptop Per Child Project

2010-11-13T02:37:00.000-08:00

Six months ago, AGYA's grant of 10 XO laptops from One Laptop Per Child, an internationally renowned organization, arrived in Kampala, Uganda. Since then, AGYA's Project Leader, Matovu Abraham, and his Youth Leader Assistant, Mulinde Kenneth have been implementing programs aimed at improving typing and research skills and mathematic proficiency for children and youth.

The project is being implemented as part of AGYA's After-School Program and classes currently take place twice a week at AGYA's Community Center.

The core long-term project goals:

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

Using the XO laptops as a fun, innovative teaching aid, AGYA has worked one-on-one with more than 30 children, giving them hands-on access to computers. To learn more about the development of this exciting project, visit AGYA's OLPC Project Page:

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/User:Amagezigemaanyi

Here are some photos highlighting the success of the project thus far:

AGYA Co-Founder Divinity Matovu Honored At Glamour Magazine’s 20th Annual Woman of the Year Event

2010-11-11T11:06:00.001-08:00

On Monday, November 8, 2010, AGYA Co-Founder, 24-year old Divinity Matovu took a break from the grassroots organizing, curriculum planning, and fundraising to enjoy an evening of glitz and glamour with some of the world’s most pre-eminent female leaders. Held at the majestic Carnegie Hall in New York City, Glamour’s WOTY Event celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year. Glamour selected 20 “amazing women” in their 20s and we are proud to announce that Divinity was fortunate enough to be among those 20. During a special segment of the event, the achievements of the 20 amazing women were introduced by Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and former President, Bill Clinton.

“The Glamour event blew my mind. It was absolutely incredible to be in the presence of so many powerful, confident, amazing female leaders.” said Divinity, pictured above.

In addition to the 20 “amazing women,” Glamour also recognized the accomplishments and humanitarian work of Julia Roberts, Donatella Versace, Fergie, Cher, and female heads of State, including Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Other heavy-hitting women such as Oprah, Kate Hudson, Diane Sawyer, and Janet Jackson graced the event with their presence. Past honorees include Michelle Obama, Alicia Keys, Madonna, and Maya Angelou.

A major theme of the event was girl’s education, a global issue that is a top priority on Divinity’s agenda for AGYA. In Nakulabye, one of 5 slum communities that AGYA serves, it is not unlikely for teenage girls to drop out of school by 10^th grade (Senior 4), become child brides and/or teenage mothers, or exchange sex for food or shelter. Families living in poverty are often confronted with the choice of sending only 1 child to school. Studies show that, if forced to choose between a son and a daughter, families overwhelmingly choose to keep their daughters at home. This is a major problem that must be brought to the forefront of discussions about education and international development.

Check out this amazing video from Girl Effect which highlights the urgency of this issue:

Through a ground-breaking partnership with the C entury City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Divinity is doing her part to increase access to education for high school girls living in Uganda’s urban slums.

“My passion and spirit for the issue of girls education was reinvigorated when I left Carnegie Hall on November 8^th. I was so inspired when I heard the Honorable Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia speak about the importance of this movement. I am so excited to be back on the ground in Kampala after several months of fundraising in the United States. I am 100% committed to doing everything in my power to advance this agenda and help girls in Uganda achieve their dreams. Education is the vehicle that these young ladies can use to lift themselves and their families up out of abject poverty. If I can do anything to provide the key, I am confident that these girls can take the wheel and change the world.”

Next month, AGYA will announce 10 young women will receive a full year scholarship for the 2011 academic year to continue their studies. AGYA has specifically focused on high school girls ages 13-17 because comprehensive research shows that this is a critical time period in the lives of these young girls.

It only costs $200 per year (or $16 per month) to keep one of AGYA’s female youth participants in high school. We need to raise $2,000 to reach our goal of providing 20 scholarships in 2012! If you would like to contribute, please make an online donation or mail a check made payable to: AGYA International to 1620 Centinela Avenue, Suite 303, Inglewood, California 90302.

Outstanding Student Leader to Spend Winter Break in Uganda

2010-11-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

Derrius Lamar Quarles is a 20-year-old sophomore at Morehouse College. As a Psychology and Sociology double major with a triple minor in Public Health, Neuroscience, and Leadership Studies he hopes to go to gain acceptance into an MD/PhD physician scientist program upon graduation with ambitions to one day work in global health, international public health policy, and health policy in his hometown, Chicago. To help him achieve these academic and career ambitions, Derrius won more than $1.1 million in scholarships, including a full scholarship to attend Morehouse before graduating from Chicago’s Kenwood Academy High School with a 4.2 GPA.

Derrius (pictured above) is a current Gates Millennium, Horatio Alger, Coca-Cola, and Dell Scholar. His financial-aid accomplishments have earned him the title “Million Dollar Scholar.” And he is currently a guest writer for the Scholarships.com blog and developing a website geared toward helping high school students gain information about the financial-aid process in order to find ways to fund their higher education. He is the first in his family to attend a four-year institution and is eager to help other students who share the same background gain access to the resources that were available to him.

At Morehouse College Derrius is a Dr. John A. Hopps Research Scholar, which is a rigorous program whose focus is on allowing students in the STEM areas to perform undergraduate research with mentors, gain acceptance into summer internships, and complete PhD programs. He is currently working in a neuroscience laboratory besides a Morehouse professor researching circadian rhythms. Derrius started his research experience in 2008 as a Biochemistry Intern at Rush Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago, IL, where he studied the synthesis of proteoglycan in bovine intervertebral disk after polysaccharide incubation. He furthered his experience at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL as an intern in the Department of Radiation Oncology where he performed lab techniques utilizing titanium oxide core-shell nanoparticles to cleave plasmid DNA. Derrius is also a volunteer for Jumpstart, an Americorps program for undergradutes whose focus is to increase literacy and comprehension abilities in inner-city preschoolers before they transition into elementary school.

In December, Derrius will travel to Uganda to work at the AGYA Community Center. Derrius met AGYA Co-Founder, Divinity Matovu earlier this year at the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference in Miami, Florida.

Since the first conversation I had with Divinity, I noticed a unique chemistry between us. A brief introduction quickly turned into an hour and a half long conversation about traveling, non-profit commitments, and the continent of Africa. It was during this conversation that I was introduced to Amagezi Gemaanyi and the future opportunity to serve as a volunteer, and at that moment, there was no doubt in mind that I would soon be working alongside Divinity in some capacity in Uganda.

Today, the possibilities of that conversation have materialized and I will be traveling to Uganda for two weeks during winter break. There are many reasons why I want to work with AGYA this winter break, but the most profound one being sound advice from a mentor, Dr. Walter Fluker. During a trip to South Africa Dr. Fluker told what he believed to be the most important thing leader of the 21^st century must do: “To be present”. This is essential reason I want to work with AGYA during my winter break; for there is no way to learn, no way to grow as a leader, if I am not present.

Above: Derrius and Divinity connect at the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference.

At AGYA's Community Center, Derrius plans to facilitate an intensive workshop series on the topic of ethical leadership. In implementing his curriculum, Derrius plans to engage the youth kinesthetically, verbally, and visually. This will be done through various forms of poetry, short story, video, and mind-body exercises meant to get the mind ready to think critically about the concept of leadership, especially from a young perspective. Questions such as “How Can I become a better leader?”, “What is leadership?”, “Can I, as a leader have an impact now?” frequently cross the minds of youth, yet there are seldom opportunities for young people to come together, think critically, have dialogue, and answer these questions for themselves.

These are the types of questions I hope to help the youth in Uganda answer, and it is my hope that their answers will allow me to make my own answers related to questions of leadership, more cogent.

Moving forward, Derrius hopes to serve as a liaison between AGYA and Morehouse College in order to initiate a group trip with Morehouse students to take place Fall 2011. The AGYA team looks forward to welcoming Derrius to Uganda. To learn more about Derrius' CGIU Commitment, visit: http://www.chicagoscholars.org/data-scholarship

Vote AGYA Co-Founder Divinity Matovu for Volunteer of the Year - Help AGYA Win $10,000 for Our Work in Uganda

2010-10-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

Social activist and entrepreneur Divinity Barkley Matovu, 24, has been nominated for the CLASSY Awards, which recognize top philanthropic achievements by charities, businesses and individuals in eight major cities nationwide.

Divinity is in the running for Volunteer of the Year because of her work to empower, educate and enrich the lives of youth living in poverty in Uganda. Online voting will determine regional winners who advance to national voting with the potential to win $10,000.

A native of Racine, Wis., Divinity co-founded the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA) with her husband, Abraham Matovu, in 2008, only six months after becoming the first person in her family to graduate from college; Divinity earned a B.A. in Political Science and African-American Studies from USC. Amagezi Gemaanyi means Knowledge is Power and AGYA is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, sustainable learning environment where Ugandan youth can develop leadership skills and express themselves creatively. Under Divinity’s leadership, AGYA operates a community center that has provided outreach, education and services to more than 1,000 people living in poverty in urban Uganda. In the future, Divinity hopes to use AGYA's program model to expand to other communities in Uganda and the East African region.

StayClassy is a revolutionary new Social Fundraising platform offering powerful fundraising and communications tools to nonprofits completely free of charge. StayClassy helps nonprofits leverage the power of social media to raise more money faster, and grow their donor base among an active, engaged community of people dedicated to giving back. The CLASSY Awards is just one way StayClassy supports the philanthropic community.

Supporters can vote for Divinity from October 9 through October 22 online at http://www.stayclassy.org/classy-awards

Each supporter can only cast one (1) vote, so make sure you select Divinity for Volunteer of the Year from Los Angeles.

If Divinity receives the most online votes in the Volunteer of the Year category for Los Angeles, she will be automatically entered into online voting for a National CLASSY Award. The competition will culminate at a red-carpet awards ceremony on Sunday, November 7 in San Diego, featuring a host of celebrity presenters, chart-topping music talent, nonprofit industry leaders, social media gurus and CLASSY Awards supporters. The Classy Awards winners have the opportunity to win $10,000 for their charitable work.

Divinity’s dedication to the welfare of Ugandan youth has earned her recognition as one of the top young social entrepreneurs under the age of 25 by DoSomething.org in March 2010. In July 2010, Divinity received an Outstanding Commitment Award from the Clinton Global Initiative University for her plan to utilize space at the AGYA Community Center to establish a solar-powered music recording studio that aims to empower Ugandan youth economically and artistically.

Since starting AGYA, Divinity secured a grant which currently provides nutritious meals and clean drinking water to more than 300 children and youth living in Uganda's urban slums. Through a partnership with the Century City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., AGYA is on track to provide 10 high school girls with academic scholarships this year. Divinity has identified her passion and has committed her life to advancing human rights, education, and poverty alleviation in developing countries like Uganda.

Youth Leader Kazibwe Nelson Reigns Supreme In Local Rap Competition

2010-09-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

AGYA Youth Leader Kazibwe Nelson who goes by the emcee name "Jajanelly Vimcage" recently beat out several competitors to win a rap competition that was sponsored by Vision Voices, a series of youth-centered events sponsored by New Vision, a popular Ugandan radio station that publishes newspapers and magazines including Bukedde, City Beat, and New Vision. The competition was part of a festival BAZZER organized to welcome new students at major universities and colleges in Uganda. After winning in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, Nelson reached the final stage of the competition.

Above & Below: Nelson performing during the rap competition.

Freestyling over a beat, Nelson eloquently and articulately presented his rap while exhibiting confidence and a strong stage presence.

At AGYA, we believe youth participation in the arts is therapeutic, a crime deterrent, diverts youth from high-risk behavior, improves academic performance, and builds critical self-discipline, communication, teamwork, and analytical skills. Nelson's success in the Vision Voices rap competition is a testament to the impact AGYA's arts programming has had on the lives of Ugandan youth. All of us at AGYA are very proud of Nelson for his accomplishment as an artist and as a performer. We look forward to working with Nelson as he evolves as an artist.

Above: Nelson with other children at AGYA during a recording session at a local studio.

Above: Nelson showing his love for music.

Above: Nelson representing for AGYA while performing at Uganda's National Theatre.

Uganda's 2nd Lady, Dr. Margaret Bukenya, Visits AGYA

2010-09-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

AGYA is honored to announce that Dr. Margaret Bukenya, a medical doctor and wife of Uganda's Vice President Dr. Gilbert Bukenya, recently visited AGYA. After spending the afternoon observing AGYA's programs and talking to youth at AGYA's Community Center, Dr. Margaret Bukenya had dinner with AGYA Board Member Dr. Charisma Acey and AGYA Co-Founder, Matovu Abraham. For youth like Naiga Shamira, who dreams of becoming a doctor and finding a cure for HIV/AIDS, meeting a dignitary like Dr. Bukenya was an amazing experience. AGYA thanks Dr. Bukenya for her visit! Check out the photos here:

Above: Dr. Bukenya adds her signature to AGYA's "Guestbook"

Above: Dr. Bukenya with AGYA Board Member, Dr. Charisma Acey who recently spent 2 weeks in Uganda visiting AGYA Programs.

Above: Dr. Bukenya poses on the front lawn of the AGYA Community Center with AGYA Girls Program participants.

Above: Dr. Bukenya participates in the AGYA Women's Literacy Class.

Above: Dr. Bukenya with AGYA Youth Leader, Kazibwe Nelson and AGYA Co-Founder, Matovu Abraham.

U.S.-Based Board Members Prepare To Take AGYA To New Heights in 2011

2010-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Within the past 6 months, AGYA has received a grant from Save Africa's Children and 10 laptops from One Laptop Per Child. AGYA accepted a grant from DoSomething.org, an organization that recognized AGYA Co-Founder, Divinity Matovu as one of the top social entrepreneurs under the age of 25 in May 2010. Additionally, AGYA's proposal to utilize extra space at our Center to establish an energy efficient music recording studio was recognized as an Outstanding Committment by the Clinton Global Initiative University at a conference at the University of Miami. This is just a snapshot of some of the exciting news coming from the AGYA camp!

While AGYA has had a strong core group of Board Members based in Uganda; we recently decided to re-vamp our U.S.-based Board of Directors (listed below) to include a diverse array of leaders from the fields of education, non-profit management, film, art, and business. AGYA is an organization poised for success, and with the support, enthusiasm, resources, networks and skills of our new Board of Directors, we are looking forward to moving ahead.

Dr. Charisma Acey

Acey is an assistant professor at Ohio State University’s Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture. Dr. Acey’s background includes extensive work, research and travel to countries in Africa and Central America.

Her research focuses on international community development, poverty alleviation and human-environment interactions at multiple scales in urban areas of developing countries. Most recently, she had an article published in Gender and Development, "Gender and Community Mobilization for Urban Water Infrastructure Investment in Southern Nigeria," and is working to publish the findings from her doctoral dissertation, which investigated inequity in household access to potable water in rapidly urbanizing areas of Nigeria.

Dr. Acey served as a Department of State Fellow in the Economic/Political Section of the United States Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi, where she carried out research on Export Processing Zones and democratic consolidation. She studied African Literature and Philosophy at the University of Zimbabwe. Dr. Acey speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Shona. At Ohio State University, Dr. Acey teaches classes in international development, GIS, and social equity. She earned her B.A in English and Pan African Studies from California State University, Northridge, and went on to earn both a Master's degree in Public Policy and Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Raphael Anderson

Raphael Anderson is the CEO of RCA Enterprises LLC, a wealth/asset management firm. Anderson graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration and International Business. Anderson has studied investment finance at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. In 2007, Anderson traveled to Botswana to conduct intense market research for three weeks before returning to Los Angeles to draft a strategic business plan to build two schools in Botswana.

Following his goals of becoming a full-time philanthropist and social entrepreneur, Raphael pursues his own entrepreneurial endeavors both in the United States and abroad. In addition to being a Board Member with AGYA International, Raphael also serves on the Youth Advisory Board of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a non-profit based in New York.

M.K. Asante

M.k. Asante is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and professor who the Philadelphia Inquirer calls "a rare, remarkable talent that brings to mind the great artists of the Harlem Renaissance." The author of three celebrated books, Asante is the recipient of the 2009 Langston Hughes Award. His latest book, It's Bigger Than Hip Hop, was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "An empowering book that moves you to action and to question status quo America." His other books include the poetry collections, Beautiful. And Ugly Too and Like Water Running Off My Back, which won the Jean Corrie Prize from the Academy of American Poets.

An acclaimed filmmaker, Asante directed and produced The Black Candle, a film he co-wrote with Maya Angelou who also narrates the film. The Black Candle, which Time magazine called "fit for a poet," won Best Documentary at the 2009 Africa World Documentary Film Festival. Asante also wrote and produced the film 500 Years Later, winner of five international film festival awards as well as the Breaking the Chains award from the United Nations. Both films were produced through his Asante Filmworx production company and premiered on TV One. Asante studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, earned his BA from Lafayette College, and an MFA from the UCLA School of Film and Television. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Philadelphia, Asante has presented his work in Africa, Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States. He has been featured on numerous TV and radio programs including the CBS Early Show, NBC News, Tom Joyner Morning Show and NPR. Asante’s essays on music, politics, and culture have been published in USA Today, Huffington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Asante is a professor of creative writing and film in the Department of English and Language Arts at Morgan State University.

Divinity Matovu

Divinity graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science and African-American Studies in 2008. After having a transformative experience while studying in East Africa as a college senior, Divinity decided to follow her passion for women’s issues and African culture by co-founding the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA) in Uganda. In addition to her work as a social entrepreneur, Divinity has been awarded for her scholarship on the study of hip-hop youth culture in Africa. Divinity is currently in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Women and Gender Studies with a focus on International Development and Microfinance at Makerere University in Uganda.

Benjamin Rothschild

Rothschild graduated with honors in 2008 from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in sculpture. He created his first public work in 2006 in collaboration with the children at Milwaukee’s La Causa Crisis Nursery. The large-scale painted-steel sculpture entitled “Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row” was designed to connect a story from the past to the difficult times of today. The work is now on permanent display along the Milwaukee RiverWalk. Rothschild’s work has been published in Creative Quarterly and his art has been displayed nationally. In August of 2008 his steel sculpture entitled, “Big Wheel Flyer” was featured at the Craven Arts Council and Gallery’s 2008 Annual Sculpture Show in North Carolina and his sculpture entitled “M42149” was displayed and awarded honors at the Visual Arts Society of Texas’ 41st Annual Visual Arts Exhibition. While galleries have honored his work across the country, Rothschild would much rather create works of art for individual enjoyment. He has made it his routine to create works of art both for, and with, those that inspire him or need inspiration.

Defined as “unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another,” Rothschild sees more value in “love” than material gain. Rothschild has made it his goal to teach young artists how to make good paint and love their canvas. After traveling to Uganda in 2009 to volunteer his skills in fine art and facilitate a series of art workshops with the children and youth of Amagezi Gemaanyi, Rothschild was inspired to become active in his local community and now volunteers as an art teacher working with at-risk youth at the Milwaukee Hope House, a transitional living and emergency housing program. Rothschild is committed to helping AGYA create safe spaces and platforms where youth can use art to articulate their feelings, hopes and dreams.

Australian Student Visits AGYA, Discusses Partnership

2010-08-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Dharnae Kern is the definition of a global thinker. Originally from Australia, she will graduate in 2012 from the University of Melbourne where she is studying commerce, the sciences, and German. In the past 60 days, she has traveled to Paris, London, Kampala, Rwanda, and Nairobi!

For 10 days in July, Dharnae visited the AGYA Community Center where she interacted with urban youth and started discussions with AGYA Co-Founder, Abraham Matovu about partnership opportunities between AGYA and GAPS (Global Aid Partnerships).

GAPS is a student organization at the University of Melbourne that aims to build sustainable partnerships between organizations and communities in the developed and developing world.

Currently, GAPS has a number of development projects in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana in the fields of education, medical development and community development. The partnership with AGYA would represent the first Uganda project for GAPS. Similarly, the collaboration with GAPS would represent AGYA’s first time hosting a group of student volunteers from Australia. Within the next six months, AGYA and GAPS will work towards finalizing a strategic plan outlining the details of the partnership and the GAPS service-learning trip to Uganda!

AGYA Goes International

2010-08-14T23:07:00.001-07:00

Dear AGYA Friends and Supporters,

I am proud to announce that AGYA has been registered as a non-profit public charity in the State of California. AGYA will be conducting business under the name "AGYA International." Your donations can now be made payable to "AGYA International" and can be mailed to our new office, which is located at 1620 Centinela Avenue, Suite 303, Inglewood, California 90302.

AGYA International will continue to facilitate the creation of safe, supportive, sustainable community centers where urban youth can develop leadership skills and express themselves creatively. We currently have 1 community center in Uganda, and our team is strategizing to reach our goal of opening 5 new urban community centers in Africa that will train and mobilize 10,000 youth to use performing and media arts as a platform to advocate for education, economic development and social change in their communities by 2020.

AGYA's Staff is working diligently to streamline our operations as we transition out of our partnership with the African Millennium Foundation, an organization that has served as our fiscal sponsor since January 2009. We are so thankful for the guidance of the African Millennium Foundation staff whose support has been instrumental to AGYA's success thus far.

As we take this next step in our journey towards sustainability, we look forward to your continued support as AGYA seeks to scale up our programs and increase our impact in the lives of youth throughout Africa. Stay tuned for news and updates! Within the next month, we will announce our new Board of Directors, a dynamic group of committed individuals who will lead AGYA into the next phase of our organizational development. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions about AGYA International.

Sincerely,

Divinity Matovu
Executive Director, AGYA

Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole Broom Talks AGYA and the Art of Living

2010-08-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

College student, Nicole Broom (pictured above), spent her summer volunteering with AGYA in Uganda.

AGYA’s International Volunteer Program partners with student groups to organize service-learning trips that provide college students with the opportunity to travel to Uganda where they learn and develop through action-oriented service that meets community needs. Through AGYA's on-going partnership with RAYSE (Rise of African Youth through Self-Empowerment), a student organization at the University of Southern California, nine USC students recently spent 4 weeks working in Uganda as part of a unique service-learning trip that focused on cultural exchange, leadership development, relationship-building, skills training and education.

Students lived and worked in the slums at the AGYA Community Center, and spent their days teaching as part of AGYA's after-school program, learning the basics of Luganda, Uganda's most widely spoken indigenous language, and reflecting on life in a developing nation. Some of the classes offered by the USC student volunteers included: dance, poetry, art, and sexual education. In addition to their work with AGYA, volunteers also facilitated workshops at I Am Children's Family Orphanage and Nabulagala Good Hope Primary School, two of AGYA's local partners.

To illustrate the success of AGYA’s international volunteer program, Nicole Broom, Summer 2010 Volunteer Alum decided to share her thoughts on AGYA, education reform, and the stereotypes that almost kept her from getting on the airplane to travel to Uganda.

Nicole is a Junior majoring in Sociology and Spanish at the University of Southern California. She grew up in Chicago and discovered her passion for education during her years as a dance teacher and elementary school tutor. Nicole plans to apply to graduate school programs in International Educational Policy to pursue her goal of working to equalize the quality of education systems around the world, particularly in developing nations in Africa and Latin America. Nicole has travelled to Panama, Spain, and most recently Uganda. This Fall, she will spend the semester in Nicaragua. Nicole admits that, prior to departing for Uganda, she was "scared out of her mind."

Below is Nicole’s first-hand account of her experience:

Even after meeting up with the RAYSE team at the airport, I had to slip away to find a quiet moment to let a few tears fall. I was so worried that I wasn't cut out for Africa.

Above: Nicole with other AGYA volunteers from the United States and Canada!

Uganda was not what I expected. I expected to see negativity, pain and suffering everywhere I looked, kids dying on the street, people struggling. The first thing that surprised me was how lush and beautiful the land was. The spirit of the people matches the beauty in the landscape. I will admit that there were some days when being called a muzungu, especially by the adults, got on my nerves. There were days when the flaws in the system at Nabulagala Good Hope Elementary school felt too large to confront in a month as a visiting student teacher. There were days when I felt there was simply no time to impart all the knowledge I wanted to share with these knowledge-hungry children. At some point, though, I realized that none of this mattered. I realized that this trip was all about the exchange, all about the little things that each person was gaining from the simple moments of interaction, from having a chat with a Ugandan on the porch, to having my students teach me Luganda as I taught them Spanish.

My Spanish curriculum was a bit too ambitious. Luckily, I learned this quickly and was able to revise as I went along, keeping an open mind and letting student feedback and performance guide my every move. I learned what it is like to treat teaching as something that is executed and achieved through a joint effort between both teacher and student. This was made easy by the fact that the students were receptive to every piece of information I decided to share, and were equally willing to share information of their own, when solicited.

Above: Nicole with AGYA youth participants: Shamira, Aisha, and Flavia.

I have never met a more fascinating group of children. This is especially true with the youth leaders. With the guidance and support of Abraham and Divinity, these young people are nearly running AGYA on their own. Their stories are fascinating. What they have all individually overcome to arrive at this point in their lives is astounding. I was so inspired by the youth at AGYA. By the end of the trip, they had become my role models. Most people would likely expect to go to Uganda to mentor others. I went to Uganda and was mentored. I learned more about myself in one month in Uganda than I have in all of my other travels combined.

I was in such a free space during my time at AGYA. I felt I could always express how I felt, what I thought. Being able to walk through the house singing at the top of my lungs and not have anyone say anything or even bat an eyelash was so freeing. AGYA’s Community Center is such a positive place. It seems like "just being yourself" is somehow a requirement at AGYA. This allowed me to really get in touch with who I am and, as a result, I was better prepared to engage with the kids and the youth leaders. Having such an amazing RAYSE team was also really helpful because I never felt I lacked someone to turn to when I was stressed. We constantly had group check-ins to make sure all was well with everyone and address any budding concerns. Furthermore, the bonds we created were so wonderful and this allowed us to work as a surprisingly cohesive group, something that serves to prove the importance of the selection process.

As I read the Dalai Lama's "The Art of Happiness" while at AGYA, I was constantly being urged to deepen my connections with others based merely on the fact that we share the common bond of humanity. In efforts to do so, I really tried to live like a Ugandan. In doing this, I found a new meaning of what it is to live. So much of what we find important and crucial to the success and enjoyment of our lives in the States is simply unnecessary. With half the number of resources and daily activities present in North America, Ugandans somehow trump us in the art of living. They are so full of life and make life so full with "so little." This is something I hope to keep with me forever.

Above: Nicole facilitates a dance class @ AGYA.

To learn more about AGYA's International Volunteer Program, e-mail us at: amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com

AGYA Receives Grant Funding From Clinton Global Initiative

2010-07-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Former President William J. Clinton addresses young activists at the 2010 CGI U Conference.

AGYA is honored and humbled to announce that our project, “Recording Our Dreams: Empowering Ugandan Youth through Music Production” will receive $6,000 USD after winning an Outstanding Commitment Award from the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U). The award is funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation.

According to CGI U, AGYA’s plan to empower youth economically and artistically by establishing a solar-powered recording studio was as an exemplary entrepreneurial and environmentally-sustainable approach to alleviate poverty and joblessness among youth in Uganda's urban slums.

The “Recording Our Dreams” studio will be housed at the AGYA Learning Center. With the grant funds, AGYA will purchase much-needed equipment such as state-of-the art computers, an electricity generator, software, speakers, microphones, and solar panels.

This innovative project will integrate hip-hop youth culture to reach out effectively to at-risk urban youth who are increasingly embracing the messages, themes, and images prevalent in hip-hop.

Within the next two months, AGYA’s leaders aim to connect with manufacturers of solar panels and potential partner organizations who have successfully harnessed solar energy in order to pursue our goal of using solar power for 35 percent of the studio’s energy. The solar power aspect of our commitment will give us a competitive advantage over other studios in Uganda which have failed to diversify their energy supplies.

Project leader Divinity Matovu (pictured above) had sustainability in mind when she made her Commitment at the April 2010 CGI U Conference. The studio will be financially viable because studio rental and production fees will generate revenue for AGYA programs. Additionally, the studio will create jobs for youth, enhancing their earning capacity as they acquire marketable technical skills and media training.

AGYA will work in partnership with Point Youth Media to implement an intensive 16-week training program that will teach students how to operate sound equipment and use software programs for recording, as well as book-keeping and marketing skills. The students will also develop a MySpace Music Page and work towards recording compilation CDs.

As youth graduate from the training program, they will pass their skills on to others and have access to job opportunities in the studio. We project that, within two years, 182 youth between the ages of 12-25 will successfully complete the media training course. By the beginning of the second year, we anticipate releasing and selling our first compilation album, thereby launching the revenue-generating aspect of our commitment.

Thank you to CGI U for supporting “Recording Our Dreams”! Stay tuned for more updates about this awesome project!

AGYA Girls Program Leader Enrolls in United Media Consultants and Trainers (UMCAT)

2010-07-19T08:35:00.001-07:00

19 year old Mulekatete Sarah was recently re-elected to serve as the Director of the AGYA Girls Program. Sarah's dream is to become a journalist and we are proud to announce that, with the support of AGYA, Sarah has enrolled in a degree program at United Media Consultants and Trainers (UMCAT).

Sarah was recently interviewed by Zora&Alice, an online women's magazine which hopes to empower young women to be leaders and entrepreneurs, in business, non-profit, writing, film, fashion.

To view the article, click here: http://zora-alice.com/2010/07/sarah-mulekatete-victim-to-leader/

18 New Youth Leaders Will Lead AGYA Into 2011

2010-07-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

The involvement of youth in leadership positions is a central aspect of AGYA's philosophy. This approach 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 gain valuable leadership experience and earn a monthly stipend which allows them to supplement their family's household income and be economically empowered young people.

All 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.

Every six (6) months, AGYA gives youth members the opportunity to apply for a leadership position in the organization. After undergoing a comprehensive leadership facilitation training workshop series, 1-on-1 interviews, and submitting written applications, 18 new AGYA Youth Leaders have been selected! They will serve from July 2010 - January 2011.

Above: New Youth Leaders with AGYA Co-Founder Abraham Matovu.

Congratulations to all the new leaders (pictured here) who will lead AGYA into 2011!

Musisi Ibrahim - Youth Manager, Lunch Program

Kawesi Juma - Assistant Youth Manager, Free Lunch Program

Naiga Shamira - Assistant Youth Manager, Performing Arts Program

Kyebakuwadde Aisha - Youth Manager, Performing Arts Program

Namutebi "Happy" Caitrine - Youth Manager, Education/After-School Program

Mutuuza Jepheth - Assistant Youth Manager, Education/After-School Program

Nansubuga Shamira - Assistant Youth Manager, Film/Media Arts Program

Mubiru Bonny - Youth Manager, Film/Media Arts Program

Mulinde Kenneth - General Secretary and Youth Administrator

Naluwagga Sharon - General Secretary and Youth Administrator

Sseguya Brian - Assistant Youth Manager, Facilities

Kazibwe Nelson - Youth Manager, Facilities

Nakirwowa Resty - Assistant Youth Manager, AGYA Girls Program

Mulekatete Sarah - Youth Manager, AGYA Girls Program

Sseremba Mathias - Youth Manager, Art Program

Nakatudde Flavia - Assistant Youth Manager, Art Program

Kirabira Bosco - Youth Manager, Sports and Recreation Activities

Kawera Enoch - Assistant Youth Manager, Sports and Recreation Activities

AGYA Youth Use Stop-Motion Technology To Create Animated Promo Video!

2010-07-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

After only 6 weeks of intensive media training with Point Youth Media volunteers, a team of AGYA Youth have filmed and edited the following promo video in Uganda. This short video (which features "Long Time," the original composition written and recorded by AGYA youth in the opening scene) serves as a testament to the ways in which access to resources and training can truly open up a world of possibilities for children and youth. Enjoy!

AGYA Measures Impact of 2 Core Programs

2010-07-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Organizations often highlight what they do and how they do it; however, many organizations struggle to qualitatively and quantitatively measure the impact of their programs and activities. Although AGYA is still in the process of solidifying and streamlining our evaluation procedures; we are proud to report that, within the last 6 months, our Free Lunch Program has provided more than 500 kg of food and 76 gallons of clean drinking water to children and youth living in Uganda’s urban slums. AGYA’s Staff has contributed more than 1,500 volunteer hours to ensure the success of the Free Lunch Program, which has served 323 children and youth from 5 urban communities in Uganda.

The AGYA Girls Program is set to launch Year 2 of “Adopt-A-Scholar,” a virtual mentor and scholarship initiative designed to provide teenage Ugandan girls with the encouragement, guidance, confidence and financial support to finish high-school and think critically about issues that shape and affect their lives.

Through our partnership with the Century City Alumnae Chapter (CCAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, AGYA hopes Adopt-A-Scholar participants emerge from the program as empowered young women who have the skills and confidence to take control of their futures, finish high school with strong academic rankings, and pursue higher education at the collegiate level.

Year 1 of Adopt-A-Scholar took place from July 2009 – June 2010. During Year 1, AGYA and CCAC provided full year academic scholarships to 4 participants, all of whom are members of AGYA and attend high-school at Kasubi Senior Secondary School. This year, AGYA and CCAC plan to provide 10 scholarships to high-school girls in Uganda!

15 girls between the ages of 14 and 19 began the program in July 2009. 11 girls, or 73%, successfully completed the program in June 2010.

The 11 AGYA Girls graduates reported the following outcomes in an evaluation survey (on a scale of 1-10, with 1 as the worst and 10 as the best):

Overall experience in the program: 8
Ability to communicate in English with CCAC Mentor: 9
Ability to understand e-mail correspondence from CCAC Mentor: 9
Ability to relate to mentor: 7
Ability to understand assignments: 8
Ability to understand background readings: 8
Ability to relate to characters in background readings: 6
Ability to access internet before participating in the program: 1
Ability to access internet after participating in the program for 1 year: 6

Despite the success of Adopt-A-Scholar’s inaugural year, AGYA is eager to build and continue to improve this program. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 10 scholarship recipients, which will be posted by October 2010. Good luck to all the scholars!

AGYA to Co-Sponsor "Ukoo Flani: Pioneers of Kaya Hip Hop" Event & Concert in Los Angeles

2010-06-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Save The Date: January 20, 2011

On January 20, 2011, at the University of Southern California's Bovard Auditorium, AGYA will co-sponsor an event featuring a performance by Kenyan rap group Ukoo Flani, pioneers of kaya hip-hop. The performance will be followed by a discussion about the role of African youth in the development of hip hop as a global art form and the issues facing urban youth in Africa.

The event is a by-product of AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Matovu's 2007 Senior Thesis which focused on the role of hip-hop and rap music in the youth culture in Kenya’s largest coastal city, Mombasa. Divinity's Thesis Project was published by the School for International Training and took top honors in USC's 10th annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work. To learn more about Divinity's award-winning thesis, visit: http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/125/

Divinity is very excited about this event which brings together her love for hip-hop culture and rap music, youth empowerment, and her alma mater, the University of Southern California.

"During my first trip to Africa (Kenya), the Ukoo Flani guys were the first group of youth from the slums who embraced me, and helped me understand the complexities of life for ghetto youth in East Africa. If it wasn't for my bond with the Ukoo Flani, it is likely that I would not have been so inspired to connect with youth and focus on the arts. Ukoo Flani's music is inspiring, raw, insightful, and sometimes rebellious. Ukoo Flani will be able to speak to the heart of important issues facing urban youth in Africa at the Visions and Voices Event, and I am so glad that I've been able to be a part of this!"

Prior to the January 2011 event in California, members of Ukoo Flani will travel to Kampala, Uganda to facilitate music workshops at the AGYA Community Center. Members of Ukoo Flani have expressed their joy about the opportunity to travel to California and share their ideas, music, philosophy, and opinions on a platform as prestigious as USC.

Ukoo Flani is an acronym for Upendo Kwote Olewenu Ombeni Funzo La Aliyetuumba Njia Iwepo, which means “love everywhere all who seek teachings of the Creator; there is a way.” The group is composed of thirteen men from Mombasa slum neighborhoods in Kenya who have transcended religious and tribal differences to make groundbreaking music.

Video: Hip-Hop Halisi* by Ukoo Flani
*translation: Real Hip-Hop

Among the Mijikenda people of Kenya’s coastal province, “kaya” means homestead or temple. The young rappers have embraced the historic term to form a style of hip hop that is positive, innovative, peaceful and socially conscious. As pioneers of this style, Ukoo Flani rap about the realities they see in their respective neighborhoods.

This event, which is presented by Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative, is organized by Francille Rusan Wilson (USC Department of American Studies and Ethnicity), Joanna Demers (the USC Thornton School of Music), Patrick James (USC International Relations Department, USC Center for International Studies), and co-sponsored by the USC Office of the Vice Provost for Globalization and Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA).

For further information on this event, e-mail: visionsandvoices@usc.edu and visit:

http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/873341

USC Students Share Snapshots of Work in Uganda

2010-06-10T10:10:00.001-07:00

The AGYA Community Center, pictured above and below, has provided outreach, education, mentoring, tutoring, and services to more than 1,000 youth, women, and children living in urban poverty.

Photo Credits: Marcus Cheng & Natalia Calderon

AGYA Executive Director Speaks About Love for AGYA, Africa

2010-05-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

AGYA Co-Founder, Divinity Barkley, Named as a Finalist in DoSomething Awards

2010-04-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

When AGYA Co-Founder, Divinity Barkley first heard of DoSomething.org six months ago, she thought of her favorite quote from Albert Einstein: “the world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look and do nothing.”

DoSomething.org is an organization that creates a culture of volunteerism among young people by leveraging new technology, the internet, television, and pop culture. As part of their commitment to helping young people activate positive social change in local and global communities, DoSomething.org sponsors “The Do Something Awards” which honors young world-changers who have made significant impact in their communities.

AGYA is proud to announce that Divinity is a Do Something Award finalist. She will fly to New York City in May 2010 to represent AGYA and compete for one of five $10,000 community grants. If Barkley is nominated as one of the top 5 change-makers, she will have the unique opportunity to participate in a live VH1 TV show and possibly receive a grand prize of $100,000 for her work to empower and enrich the lives of youth in Uganda’s urban slums.

To learn more about Divinity’s commitment to Ugandan youth, visit:
http://www.dosomething.org/project/amagezi-gemaanyi-knowledge-power

To learn more about the Do Something Awards, visit:
http://www.dosomething.org/awards

We are also proud to announce that AGYA has been selected to receive a $500 Growth Grant from DoSomething.org. These funds will be used to purchase a new computer, printer and desk for the main office at the AGYA Learning Center. The acquisition of this new equipment will improve AGYA's overall communication between staff in Uganda and the United States, a major enhancement which will help AGYA continue on the path toward sustainability. The new computer will serve as the main data center for all of AGYA's e-communications, contacts, calendaring system, marketing and fundraising documents.

AGYA Co-Founder Matovu Abraham Prepares to Launch Laptop Workshops in Uganda

2010-04-18T04:23:00.000-07:00

AGYA has officially received our shipment of 10 XO laptop computers as part of a grant from One Laptop Per Child. The XO laptop is an innovative educational tool designed to be put into the hands of children. This is exactly what AGYA intends to do.

Next month, AGYA Co-Founder and Secretariat, Matovu Abraham, who also serves the Project Leader, will implement Phase I of a project that aims to improve the performance of 100 children in English reading and writing proficiency, and improve the performance of 50 children (ages 6-11) in basic Mathematical operations (including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and ratios).

After undergoing an extensive tutorial with AGYA’s OLPC mentor, Caryl Bigenho, and familiarizing himself with the XO’s software, Abraham has decided to start by using three activities entitled “Write,” “Read” and “Memorize.”

The WRITE activity serves as the basic word processing application on the XO laptop. Its simple interface provides an easy starting point for children, presenting tools that make writing a story, poem or essay simple and straightforward. It also supports basic tools for inserting images, creating tables, and performing basic layout operations as children begin to require some of these features often associated with word processors. Abraham will use WRITE to teach children how to navigate the keyboard, learn basic typing skills, practice typing speed,and hold dictation and transcription exercises.

MEMORIZE is the classic memory game of finding and matching pairs. But on the XO, this game is done with a twist. The items in a pair can be any multimedia object, such as images, sounds and text. Abraham will initially use the Memorize activity to help children with simple math operations. For example, the number 7 may be matched with an image of 5+2 or a picture of 7 pineapples.

The READ activity features an eBook reader. The XO laptop has a screen that rotates 180 degrees and folds down onto the keyboard, so children can actually read while holding their laptop like a book. With a special focus on children’s literature by African authors, Abraham will use this activity to build the vocabulary and reading comprehension of his students.

Above: A Snapshot of the MEMORIZE activity on the XO laptop.

Below: A Snapshot of the READ activity on the XO laptop.

Although there are more than 20 activities that are available on AGYA’s XO laptops and hundreds more being created daily, Abraham selected these activities because they will serve as the foundational building blocks as we work towards our goals of improving the reading, writing, and math skills of Ugandan children.

For the first 2 months of the project, Abraham will hold classes five days every week. These classes will take place after-school and on weekends at the AGYA Community Center. On Mondays and Wednesdays for 1 hour, Abraham will work with 10 students ages 5-8, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1 hour, Abraham will work with 10 students ages 9-12. On Saturdays, Abraham will hold a class with all 20 students.

The software on the XO’s are provided by the Sugar Learning Platform, a dynamic computer environment composed of Activities designed to help children from 5-12 years old learn together through rich-media expression. Sugar is the core component of a worldwide effort to provide every child with the opportunity for a quality education—it is currently used by nearly one-million children worldwide speaking 25 languages in over 40 countries. AGYA is proud to be a part of the Sugar Learning Platform and the One Laptop Per Child global family.

To learn more about Sugar software, visit www.sugarlabs.org

Argentina-based Fundraiser Joins AGYA Team for 12-Week Internship

2010-04-18T04:16:00.000-07:00

AGYA has selected Jorge Chahle, a graduate Marketing student at the Argentinean School of Business, to fulfill a 12-week internship focused on research grants and write funding proposals. Chahle is fluent in Spanish and English, and for the last 3 years, has worked as Development Coordinator with Amnesty International in Argentina. Currently, he is also working for Doctors Without Borders Argentina, coordinating a pilot project of individual giving.

Hoping to put AGYA on a path towards financial sustainability, Executive Director, Divinity Barkley, designed the internship to attract talented professionals with grant-writing and fundraising experience. Barkley posted the internship opening on Idealist.org, and Chahle was one of the most appealing candidates. Within a few days of receiving his cover letter and resume via e-mail, Barkley and Chahle had connected via Twitter, Facebook, and Skype. “After our first Skype call, I knew Chahle was the right guy for this internship,” says Barkley.

Pictured below, Chahle, AGYA’s new Intern Coordinator for Research and Grants, will work from his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, receive daily research and writing assignments, and meet virtually with Barkley twice every week via Skype Videoconference.

Barkley is hopeful that Chahle’s professional experience and skills, formal training, and fresh perspective will catapult AGYA’s fundraising strategy to a new level.

“50 years from now, I want AGYA to be a relevant organization that provides hope and opportunity to youth in Uganda. Securing grant monies and other financial resources represent an essential element to making this vision a reality. I am so thrilled that Jorge has joined our team. He has already provided some great ideas that will help AGYA improve the organization of our fundraising strategy and prioritize potential funding options.”

To learn more about other internship opportunities with AGYA, e-mail Divinity at amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com

AGYA Staff Gears Up to Welcome Student Volunteers from Vancouver, Canada, the University of Southern California and Ohio State University!

2010-03-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

This summer, as part of our service-learning volunteer trips initiative, AGYA will welcome several student volunteers from Canada and two top universities in North America: Ohio State University and the University of Southern California.

These ambitious college students will spend 4 weeks living and working at the AGYA Community Learning Center in Uganda. They will teach daily classes and workshops at AGYA's Community Center, volunteer at an elementary school and a local orphanage, undergo intensive Luganda language training, participate in cultural excursions, and collaborate with student leaders from Makerere University, Uganda's premiere 4-year degree granting institution of higher education.

Focused on cultural exchange, leadership development, relationship-building, skills training and education, AGYA Co-Founders, Divinity Barkley and Abraham Matovu, aim to encourage the student volunteers to learn and develop through action-oriented service that meets community needs. The children and youth in Uganda benefit, not only from the skill-sharing that takes place, but also from cross-cultural interaction and dialogue with diverse groups of people.

Last year, nine college students from USC traveled to Uganda during Summer 2009 through AGYA's strategic partnership with USC student group RAYSE (Rise of African Youth through Self-Empowerment) and the USC Volunteer Center. The students, who came from all different backgrounds and academic majors, taught a variety of workshops including: dance, song-writing, computer training, film and photography.

This year, nine more students from USC will share their time and talent by participating in the 2nd Annual USC Alternative Summer Break Program. Through the leadership of Hawa and Nasra Mire of Point Youth Media, one of AGYA's core partners, several student activists from Canada will travel to Uganda, teach a series of photography and media arts workshops. Keischa Irons, a graduate student from Ohio State University will also join AGYA this summer.

Profiled here, all of these students represent the essence of AGYA's service-learning volunteer trips initiative!

Keischa Irons, 23
Graduate Student, Ohio State University

Keischa works as a Graduate Research Associate with the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies from the University of Cincinnati 2008 and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning at the Ohio State University.

Her academic interests include cultural planning, economic development and community planning. Keischa previously served with AmeriCorps of Ohio at the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative providing research in the mentoring department.

In Uganda, Keischa plans to facilitate a public-speaking workshop that aims to build confidence and self-expression while giving youth the skills to tap into, and share, a range of emotions which in the end is therapeutic.

Benny Etienne, 20

Benny was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti but currently lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She speaks French and English and holds very close ties to her native and adoptive countries. She is currently studying to become a professional film editor. Benny loves the art of storytelling and believes that film editors are the storytellers of the 21st Century.Traveling is Benny's other passion, and her goal is to travel at least once every year for the rest of her life. She is extremely excited to travel to Uganda and to spend time and collaborate with the youth at AGYA. She has never visited the African continent, so this will be a unique and enriching experience for her. She looks forward to sharing her film and storytelling skills with other youth and learning more about Ugandan society and culture during her stay.

Nasra Mire, 24
Point Youth Media Co-Founder & Workshop Facilitator

Nasra is a 24 year old free spirit with many hidden talents. She is the other co-founder of Point Youth Media. She has spent 2 years in Langara University in Canada pursing a graphic design degree. She is currently working for Free the Children and the City of Vancouver as a youth developer. She enjoys all forms of 2D and 3D arts and other creative medium. She serves on the Board of Education for Vancouver Foundation and works with KINEX, traveling all over BC as a facilitator. She plays an active role in the Vancouver community and is known for her random comments and quick laughter. Nasra has traveled throughout East Africa including Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Nicholas "Nick" Guay-Ross

Nicholas Guay-Ross is a third year chemistry student at Simon Fraser University. He currently works as a lifeguard and swimming instructor to earn extra money for school. According to Nick, water is his "thing." He has a huge interest in all kinds of fish, and loves being outside in the snow or rain, which is pretty good considering that he lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada a place where it rains most of the year. Rain or shine, outside is where Nick wants to be. He has traveled the world going to places in Europe, East Asia, and all over North America. He is eager to experience Africa, and meet the people that make AGYA the amazing place that it is!

Parisa Azadi, 22

Parisa is a freelance photojournalist specializing in reportage and portraiture. With a passion for the arts and story telling, she started working as an actor at an early age. Ultimately it was through her experience as an actor that she discovered her passion for photography. Parisa's focus is to document the cultures, events and people that shape our world. She worked extensively in New Orleans on a on-going series documenting the culture and music in the city. Parisa also spent time in Bayamo, Cuba where she lived and worked in an art school for children ages 10-15. She strives to capture the essence of the moment and to tell compelling stories that evoke thought and emotion.

Hawa Mire, 22

Hawa is originally from Somalia, grew up in Surrey and is currently residing in Vancouver. She is the co-founder of Point Youth Media, a youth run and led grassroots organization determined to make a difference in the way youth are viewed in the global community through the use of art.  Hawa was recently awarded the City of Vancouver youth award for her dedication and involvement within the Vancouver youth community. Hawa does extensive work within the African community as both an advocate and a participant. As a racialized young woman herself, she enjoys getting involved in programs and projects that allow her to use her own experiences as a teaching and learning mechanism. Hawa strongly advocates for youth run and led leadership programs, and believes in the power of youth voice.

Krystie Babalos, 22

Krystie Babalos is part of the "Me to We" Leadership Team in Vancouver, Canada. Since joining Me to We & Free The Children, she has traveled around the world, from British Columbia to China & India, working with youth to develop their inner social activist. In her spare time, you can find Krystie painting abstract works of art, doing hot yoga and hiking the beautiful mountains of Vancouver.

Marcus Cheng, 22
4th Year Student, University of Southern California (USC)

Marcus was born in San Francisco and grew up in Hong Kong. He is a 4th year architecture student at USC. In Spring 2010, Marcus studied abroad in Italy. He is interested in architecture, design, sports and food.

Nicole Broom, 20
Junior, USC

Nicole is a Sociology and Spanish double major at the University of Southern California. She grew up in Chicago and discovered her passion for education during her years as a dance teacher and elementary school tutor. Nicole teaches at the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy Math Intervention Program. She plans to apply to graduate school programs in International Educational Policy to pursue her goal of working to equalize the quality of education systems around the world, particularly in developing nations in Africa and Latin America.

Hayley Paige Pappas, 20
Sophomore, USC

Hayley was born and raised in Newport Beach, California. She is a Sophomore majoring in Communication. She grew up singing, acting, and dancing and spent her childhood performing in musicals and acting in commercials. This will be Hayley's second trip to Uganda to work with AGYA. She participated in the 2009 alternative summer break trip, and decided to return this year in a leadership role. Hayley is an Executive Board Member of RAYSE (Rise of African Youth through Self-Empowerment), the student group that helps organize the Uganda volunteer trip.

Natalia Calderon, 21
Junior, USC

Natalia is a third year student at USC. She is enrolled in an 8 year medical program and plans to go to medical school to be a doctor. Calderon's parents were born in Costa Rica, so Spanish is her first language. She also speaks English and some French. She loves singing, traveling, reading, photography, and poetry. She enjoys learning about people and their life stories as well as their family history and meeting new people everyday. She is very excited to go to Africa and meet all of the AGYA youth members!

Lindsey Patin, 19
Sophomore, USC

Lindsey is a Sophomore majoring in International Relations and Economics. She is the Co-President of the International Relations Undergraduate Association, and is active in TIRP (teaching International Relations Program) and JEP (Joint Educational Project). Lindsey has traveled to Mexico, the Bahamas, Canada, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and England. Lindsey enjoys reading, shopping, general outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, camping, etc), and also making movies!

Jillian Chou, 22
Senior, USC

Jillian will graduate from USC in 2010 with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. Jill will join the Teach for America corps after graduation and hopes to contribute to the movement to eliminate the achievement gap in American public schools. She is from Denver, Colorado and enjoys dancing. This will be Jill's second trip to Uganda. She participated in the 2009 alternative summer break trip, and decided to return this year in a leadership role. Jill is the Co-President of RAYSE (Rise of African Youth through Self-Empowerment), the student group that helps organize the Uganda volunteer trip.

Jordan Viera, 19
Freshman, USC

Jordan is double-majoring in political science and social science education with a minor in cultural anthropology at USC. Jordan spent much of his childhood in the California mountain community of Three Rivers, which is located about five miles away from Sequoia National Park, home to the world’s largest trees. This is where Jordan developed his love for learning about the world and the people in it. Jordan, a devout Christian, feels that nothing in the world is coincidental; everything has a purpose and serves to bring us closer to the intangible through some physical shape or form. Life is what we make of it, and Jordan strives everyday to help make his life meaningful and fulfilling.

Amber Monet Hogans, 21
Junior, USC

Amber is currently working hard earn to earn an Accounting degree and a CPA license upon graduation from USC in 2011. After gaining experience from a public accounting firm, Amber plans to attend graduate school where she will work towards earning a master’s degree in business entertainment or accounting, or some other closely related business discipline. Amber is an active leader on USC's campus, serving as the Assistant Director for the Black Student Assembly (BSA), the President for National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA), and the President of a Christian sisterhood Sisters in Spirit (SIS). Community service is very important to Amber who not only helps tutor younger students but also aims to help youth understand their self-worth and realize that they can do anything with hard-work and self-motivation.

Hannah Wasserman, 20
Sophomore, USC

Hannah is a Sophomore in the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development. She is is from Sacramento, California. She has an older brother, an older sister and a cocker spaniel named Lucy. Her name is a palindrome; it can be spelled the same way forwards and backwards (Hannah/hannaH). She loves to watch movies - her favorites are Fight Club and Zoolander (if she had to pick only two). She was a springboard diver and also dabbled in Lacrosse. She plays board games on a regular basis. In high school, she was famous for her baking abilities - she even invented her own recipe of cookies! Her favorite thing to do is go on adventures; she loves to hike, go to new places, etc. She loves every kind of music (even country)! She is in a sorority at USC called Theta. She lives in the house with 64 other girls which is very fun/crazy/hectic. Most importantly, she is so excited to go to Uganda this summer!!!

You Can Support by Purchasing a Piece of Art!

2010-03-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

Contact us at amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing one of the pieces exhibited below. Proceeds help AGYA meet our operational costs and provide jobs to Ugandan youth living in urban poverty.

Above: "A Caring Mother" Price - $35

Above: "Fruits of Life" Price - $25

Above: "Behind the African Woods" Price - $35

Above: "Men who know their roots, culture, and beliefs" Price - $30

Above: "African Homestead" Price: $25

Above: "Baganda Traditional Wear for Women" Price - $25

Above: "A Masai Warrior" Price - $25

Above: "Cattle Keeping" Price - $35

Above: "Flowers on the Rock" Price - $25

Above: "African Woman in Action" Price - $35

Above: "For Better For Worse, I have to go" Price - $25

Above: "Going For Harvest" Price - $25

Above: "One Love" Price - $25

Above: "African Beer Party" Price - $30

Above: "Beautiful Landscape" Price - $4o

Above: "Different Colors, One People" Price - $25

AGYA to host fundraiser in Los Angeles on February 26, 2010

2010-02-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles supporters are encouraged to attend AGYA's Spring 2010 Fundraising Reception on Friday, February 26, 2010.

For details, e-mail AGYA Executive Director Divinity Barkley at divinity.amagezi@gmail.com

AGYA Secures a Grant of 10 Laptops from One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)

2010-02-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

With the goal of increasing the computer literacy of young Ugandans, AGYA reached out to world-renowned organization, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC).

OLPC is dedicated to creating educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. OLPC works with non-profit organizations, schools, and governments, and in recent months, has launched projects in India, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The video below highlights OLPC's amazing work:

AGYA is honored to announce that we were selected to receive a grant of 10 laptop computers from OLPC.

“In the 21st Century, most 11-year olds in the United States know how to conduct a Google Search, compose an e-mail message, build a blog, upload pictures to Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter! In the urban slums of Uganda, these skills are relegated to the privileged. Most of our students cannot pay the high fees associated with using trendy public internet cafes. But, thanks to our collaboration with OLPC, AGYA members will have free access to the World Wide Web and opportunities to enhance and develop their computer literacy skills. This is so important, and I am honored that OLPC chose AGYA as a laptop project beneficiary.” said AGYA Co-Founder and Executive Director, Divinity Barkley.

AGYA’s laptops are currently en route to Uganda. AGYA’s leadership team expects to have the laptops in Uganda by March. Upon receipt of the laptops, AGYA will implement 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.

For AGYA Co-Founder and Secretariat, Abraham Matovu, the acquisition of the laptops was an essential piece of the puzzle to making the AGYA Computer Lab fully functional because:

1. AGYA’s target community (children/youth ages 6-20 living in urban slums), 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 21st Century Global World.

2. The majority of students in AGYA’s 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.

In addition to teaching basic computer skills and focusing on interactive math games, AGYA is exploring opportunities to partner with other OLPC laptop recipients on electronic pen-pal projects.

For updates on the status of AGYA’s OLPC Project, visit: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Amagezi_Gemaanyi

Fresh Off the Press: AGYA T-shirts Now Available

2010-02-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

To find out how you can support AGYA by sporting a t-shirt, e-mail us at:
amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com

AGYA Youth Add African Flavor to The Art of Breaking

2010-01-30T16:39:00.000-08:00

Breaking, or breakdancing, is a style of dance that evolved as part of hip-hop culture among urban youth in New York during the 1970s. Arguably the most fluid and far-reaching aspect of hip-hop culture, breakdancing has taken Uganda by storm. Ugandan youth have embraced this unique style while incorporating some distinctly African elements of dance and movement in order to create a style which is fascinating to watch. AGYA offers breaking classes at our community learning center on a daily basis.

The following video features several AGYA Youth Member b-boys and b-girls during a recent rehearsal. Enjoy!

AGYA Welcomes Our First European Visitors From Sweden

2010-01-15T00:47:00.000-08:00

To start the New Year, AGYA welcomed our first European visitors. 30-year old Goran Ericksson and 28-year Lisa Tagesson are a young, artistic couple from Sweden. Eriksson is a professional poker player and Tagesson, who just completed a Masters Degree in Visual Arts at Gothenburg University, recently spent 3 months in China and 1 year in Korea as an artist in residence. Within the last year, Eriksson and Tagesson have traveled to Malaysia, Laos, Korea, China, Thailand, Philippines, and India. A three-month tour of East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania) is just the latest stop on their journey of world travel.

Knowing they wanted to spend some time volunteering during their time in Africa, Eriksson and Tagesson searched on the internet for organizations that focused on art and creative expression. After searching for groups in Uganda, they stumbled upon AGYA’s blogspot. According to Eriksson and Tagesson, the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association was one of the few organizations they found that was youth-centered and placed a priority on art and creativity programming. They were especially interested to learn that U.S.-based artist, Benjamin Rothschild, had recently spent 1 month in Uganda teaching art workshops. After arriving in Uganda in early January, Eriksson and Tagesson decided to spend 10 days living and volunteering at the AGYA Learning Center. “Staying at AGYA has been great because the atmosphere is so good, relaxed, and creative,” said Eriksson. Adds Tagesson, “Everything happening here is positive. It is very inspiring to constantly see creation with AGYA’s music, dance, and art programs.”

Above: Lisa shows AGYA Youth Member, Rodrigo, the proper way to start a crochet piece.

Below: Goran plays football with AGYA Youth Member, Henry, in the AGYA compound.

Eriksson and Tagesson have been facilitating textiles workshops with AGYA youth members and teaching some basic Swedish vocabulary. Goran even taught AGYA students some new card games and shared some Swedish rap music with AGYA’s Big Time Hustlers hip-hop crew. They also came bearing gifts. “Our kids were so grateful to receive the camera and the knitting materials that Lisa and Goran graciously donated. They have brought a new, positive energy to the AGYA house and we are happy that they are now friends of AGYA,” said AGYA Co-Founder Matovu Abraham.

See below for photos highlighting Lisa and Goran’s time with AGYA.

ABOVE: Using the crochet technique he learned from Lisa, Youth Leader Nelson Kazibwe, works on a hat.

BELOW: AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Barkley, models Nelson's beautiful hat!

BELOW: Lisa helps prepare porridge for the AGYA Free Lunch Program.

ABOVE: AGYA Co-Founders, Divinity and Abraham with our visitors from Sweden, Lisa and Goran!

BELOW: Lisa instructs Youth Member Sarah Mulekatete during a textiles workshop.

ABOVE: Divinity and Lisa smile for the camera!

BELOW: Goran shares some crochet skills with AGYA Youth Member Brian Sseguya!

AGYA Begins 2010 With News of First Grant Award

2010-01-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

AGYA is honored to announce the receipt of our first grant award from Save Africa’s Children, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that provides direct support and care to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and war throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. SAC partners with individuals, churches, grassroots organizations, government and corporate sectors, endeavoring to build a dynamic, diverse movement to restore hope and a future for Africa's children.

The $5,000.00 grant award will allow AGYA to fully cover the cost of the free lunch program for 12 months and double the number of children we currently serve! The key objective of the program centers on alleviating the burden facing families in the communities we serve by providing free lunch and clean drinking water to registered AGYA Youth Participants every Saturday and Sunday.

AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Barkley decided to prioritize the acquisition of funds for the Free Lunch Program after learning that 60% of AGYA participants between the ages of 7 and 20 report eating less than 3 meals per day. Many of AGYA’s participants lack access to clean drinking water at their homes. Children living in poverty in

Uganda

are disproportionately affected by preventable and treatable water-borne illnesses like diarrhea. Contaminated water can cause intestinal worms, which leads to malnutrition and anemia because worms compete for the nutrition of their young hosts leaving the victims vulnerable and weak.

With the support of Save Africa’s Children, AGYA has taken a major step towards sustainability of the Free Lunch Program. However, AGYA’s leadership has an even bigger vision. AGYA Executive Director, Divinity Barkley says,

“My next focus is to raise $15,000.00 USD to purchase 20 acres of land in the village of Kyewanula, where AGYA Staff will operate a community garden and raise livestock; generating enough foodstuffs to fully sustain our Free Lunch Program and feed more than 1,000 children annually. The beauty of the AGYA Community Garden will take your breath away. Trees ripe with bananas, mangoes, and avocados and rows of cabbage, yams, cassava, beans, tomatoes, onions, greens, and maize would be visible as far as the eye can see. A holding area for cattle, chickens, and goats would be located parallel to the farm. Surplus foodstuffs will be sold at local markets, and the revenue would be reinvested into the development and maintenance of the property.”

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help make AGYA’s vision of a Community Garden a reality, please write to us at: amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com

To learn more about Save Africa’s Children, visit: www.saveafricaschildren.org

New AGYA Youth Leaders Announced

2009-12-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

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)

For the past year, nine youth leaders have been in charge of facilitating AGYA's core classes and workshops. These leaders have volunteered their time, showed their dedication to AGYA's mission statement, and proven to be indispensable assets to the organization. In order to open up leadership opportunities to a new set of leaders, AGYA Co-Founders, Matovu Abraham and Divinity Barkley, decided to implement an application process that would be conducted every 6 months. Through this new process, applicants had to submit a written application, deliver a speech at AGYA's weekly community meeting, and complete an interview with Abraham and Divinity. The process was rigorous and competitive. Returning youth leaders are: Sarah Mulekatete, Nelson Kazibwe, Aisha Kyebakuwadde, Kenny Mulinde, and Brian Sseguya. New youth leaders are: Ibrahim "Junior" Musisi, Bonny Mubiru, Jepheth Muzuza, and Dennis Mubiru.

Congratulations to all the new leaders (pictured below) who will lead AGYA into 2010!

Above: Bonny Mubiru, Manager: AGYA Sports Program

ABOVE: Kenny Mulinde, AGYA General Secretary

ABOVE: Jepheth Muzuza, Manager: AGYA Media Arts Program

ABOVE: Aisha Kyebakuwadde, Manager: AGYA Education/After-School Program

ABOVE: Dennis Mubiru, Manager: AGYA Art Program

ABOVE: Brian Sseguya, Manager: AGYA Performing Arts Program

ABOVE: Sarah Mulekatete, Manager: AGYA Girls Program

ABOVE: Ibrahim "Junior" Musisi, Manager: AGYA Free Lunch Program

ABOVE: Nelson Kazibwe, Manager: Facilities