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

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.

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

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.

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

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. 

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

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOVE: Juma works on a life drawing.

ABOVE: Ben takes a break from answering student questions.

ABOVE: Kaweera focuses on the perspective of his drawing.

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

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

ABOVE: Racheal Nankya focuses on shading her artwork.

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

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

ABOVE: Students arrive at Bujagali Falls.

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

ABOVE: Students snack on fresh mangoes.

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