30 October 2010

Continued Progress in Nyalebbe - and some music!

When we first acquired a donation from the students of Europe in 2008 we set up a Vocational Training Centre in which young women and men are developing their skills in Carpentry and Tailoring. We procured a number of Sewing machines in addition to the Agwara Machine which was an earlier donation from a friend in Australia; we also bought materials for start up and equipments and tools for carpentry.


From that time till now, as a small school; we have been able to graduate over 30 students who have been able to employ the skills and knowledge acquired to earn a living in a justified manner; as the primary objective of the school. At the moment we have 7 students taking a course in carpentry and 10 taking in tailoring.


We however still experience a number of challenges, for instance the tutors only obtained informal training and they are volunteers, we have been using a dilapidated building (of early 60s) which we acquire using part of the funding received from Europe, this needs to be salvaged and torn down for better one.


The project being undertaken by Crystal and her thesis partners is an opportunity that we need to uphold in order to build on the existing structures of the community for a sustainable community initiative. We need you to join hands with us in fund raising for a piece of land and training of teachers.


Music as basis for friendship!


In the Agwara dance at the end of the right column of this blog, the subject was the hardship the community was undergoing at that time. Actually the song was composed during famine.


The Adungu dance music I now offer you [click here to play mp3 file, then if necessary use the BACK button to return] is about friendship, how people should love each other and what one expects of a friend. The Adungu is a traditional musical instrument of ours, of the Alur people. You can read more about it here

No comments: