Founded in 2008, the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA) is a non-profit organization committed to creating a safe, supportive, sustainable learning environment where Ugandan youth can develop leadership skills and express themselves creatively.AGYA operates a community center in Nabulagala, a densely populated urban slum community in Kampala, Uganda's capital city. AGYA has provided outreach, education, and services to more than 1,000 people living in poverty in urban Uganda.
AGYA has adopted a peer-education model, and currently employs a staff of 7 Youth Leaders ages 15-25. All AGYA Youth Leaders live in the local community, and are trained to design and facilitate workshops based on their particular skill sets.
AGYA's peer-education workshops are geared towards (1) using art as a learning tool and (2) developing leadership, critical-thinking, writing, reading comprehension and communication skills. This model has been effective because youth are encouraged to be independent, trust each other, share their skills, and help develop and empower their fellow youth. AGYA's youth leaders are effective in reaching out to some of the most at-risk youth because they were raised in similar environments and can relate to the challenges that their peers are struggling against.
AGYA's classes and workshops are open and accessible to all youth, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, income level, education level, physical disabilities, or family background. New members are drawn to the AGYA Learning Center mainly through word of mouth.
In the future, AGYA hopes to use our program model to expand to other communities in Uganda and the East African region. By opening community centers, AGYA hopes to empower, educate, and enrich the lives of African youth so they can live healthy, productive lives, pursue their dreams, develop their talents and leadership skills, and evolve as socially active, responsible citizens to build a better Africa and a better world.
By 2020, AGYA plans to open 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.
AGYA's dynamic team members are profiled here!
Divinity Barkley Matovu
Executive Director; Co-Founder
 |
Divinity is an honors graduate of the University of Southern California and the School for International Training. She has studied in the United States of America, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. After having a transformative experience while studying in East Africa as a college senior, Divinity decided to follow her passion for education, human rights, women’s issues and African culture by co-founding the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA) in Uganda. She has more than five years experience in Business, Human Resource, and Non-Profit Management. 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.
A native Ugandan, Abraham has more than 5 years of non-profit management experience. Known affectionately by hundreds of kids as “Uncle Ibra,” Abraham dreams of establishing a child care facility for vulnerable children, especially street kids vulnerable children, and orphans who have lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.As the Country Director, Abraham oversees the development of AGYA's Annual Work Plan and other project deliverables. Abraham provides overall project management and guidance to staff, youth leaders, volunteers, and consultants.
Mulinde Kenneth
Deputy Country Director; Youth Administrator
Kenny is a graduate of Nakasero Senior School and a founding member of AGYA. As the Deputy Country Director, Kenny works collaboratively with Abraham Matovu to direct all aspects of key project implementation. As the Youth Administrator, Kenny handles AGYA's administrative tasks including scheduling, taking meeting minutes, facilitating weekly community meetings, and managing the Main Office at AGYA's Community Center.Namutebi Happy Caitrine
Managing Director - AGYA Girls Program
happy.amagezi@gmail.com
Happy is a founding member of AGYA. She served as the Youth Leader Manager for AGYA's Education and After-School Programs from June 2010 - January 2011. She graduated from the AGYA Girls Program in 2009 and was named as the Managing Director of the Girls Program in January 2011. In this role, she oversees the implementation of "Adopt-A-Scholar," a joint mentor/scholarship initiative between AGYA and the Century City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Happy is an advocate of women's rights and girls education; she is a confident, eloquent young woman who serves as a leader and role model for AGYA's female participants. She has extensive experience facilitating classes and workshops with youth. She received recognition from Uganda's Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development for her work to increase literacy among women living in Uganda's urban slums.
Mathias Sseremba
After-School Program Assistant Manager
matt.amagezi@gmail.com
Nakatudde Flavia
Assistant Youth Administrator
flavia.amagezi@gmail.com
Kaweesi Henry
After-School Program Manager
kaweesihenry@rocketmail.com
