The third cohort of the Viva@GDPU music for social change project is now up and running, sponsored by Viva la Visa the UK specialist visa company for the entertainment industry.
The name of the project has been changed to reflect the new ambition and scope. It’s now called Viva Wer Waa (Wer Waa is ‘our song’ in Luo).
Aims
Viva Wer Waa is aimed at:
- Talent development, through building the capacity of young people with disabilities in music: writing, recording and performance.
- Advocating for and amplifying the rights of people with disability (PWDs) through the power of music.
- Improving the livelihood of the project beneficiaries now and in the long term; sustainable lives for them, their families and their communities.
- Improving the quality of songs produced by PWDs in Uganda.
- 2 x new trainees will be trained in studio production.
Performance
Much greater concentration will be given to performance, search for public recognition and outreach work in the local communities. This next step will include the recruitment of a dedicated music promoter to promote the trained Viva artists.
The new documentary explains the work of the programme and some of the obstacles faced by young musicians with disabilities.
More music videos will be made, this is the most recent, a plea for young people to avoid peer pressure in their lives:
Viva la Visa have already started a substantial social media campaign in the West (see their Facebook page or #vivawerwaa ). Much more work on social media will follow.
The Viva sound
The main goal of the Viva studio at Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) is to promote local content, especially the use of local instruments, bringing the unique Ugandan traditional sounds and music for the whole world to enjoy.
Over 40 songs and 13 (thirteen) videos and one documentary have been made so far showing the impact of the Viva la Visa studio on our beneficiaries.
As part of Viva Wer Waa, 2 X new PWD trainees have already been recruited to work on studio production and we hope they will become full time producers by the end of this cohort.
Impact
Through this grant support from Viva La Visa, the team in Gulu have already witnessed a great change in the social wellbeing and integration of youth with disabilities. The studio has allowed young people to join those from whom they were once excluded: for example through composing traditional marriage and praise songs: – Gospel songs, lakubukubu songs (Luo traditional songs) and Luo tunes to the community: change through music.
Excitement
Very exciting developments and so many thanks to Viva La Visa for giving the funds to make this happen. Do keep looking at the You Tube channel for more videos and posts here for more news.
Viva Wer Waa Project Summary: click for details
The new phase of the project seeks to identify a music promoter to promote, market and link our artists to new opportunities.
The new phase will offer post training support for graduates from the first two cohorts of the Viva training project
The project seeks to empower and develop the leadership structures of the Uganda Association for Artist with Disabilities, to enable their leadership structures and development.
Enrol 2 new trainees with disabilities for 6 months training in production, music recording and composing skills and 6-month post training support.
Disseminate the music and songs composed by the trainees through social media / You Tube /live streaming in accordance with regulations and safeguarding best practice
The new project seeks to offer Outreach music shows in rural communities: presenting and performing music produced by the musicians at market days and other public events.
The project will provide basic literacy for artists, so that they can write and record their songs.
Develop the profile of the artists at the studio to the general public through a functional website for the music programme.
Develop the sustainability of the music studio by promoting it to members of the community as a chargeable service.
Give opportunities for people with disabilities to bring out their talents and be publicly visible and change people’s perceptions through music.
Most of the songs composed are in local language (Luo) which is widely understood by a population of over 30 million (Acholi, Langi, Alur, Luo of Sudan, Japadola, and Jaluo of Kenya).
Most of the produced songs are educative songs tailored to the youth and the community on good morals, negative attitudes of the community towards disability and education, and social wellbeing of persons with disabilities in the different communities.
Want To Know More?
If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity who manage the Viva Wer Waa programme and the VPep skills training programme please go to our Home page
If you would like to give something, please go to our Donate page.
If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union GDPU) who deliver Viva Wer Waa please go to their website or Facebook page.
If you would like to know more about Viva La Visa please go to their website.
Many Thanks.
ETC of PWD 