Introduction.
The Viva la Visa music program is a social change programme aimed at talent development for passionate youth with disabilities.
In 2023 we, at GDPU, successfully started the training and capacity building of 9 direct beneficiaries: 7 Male 2 Female. They went through 6 months intensive training on music production and vocal training and produced over 30 songs and 10 videos with one video dedicated to the donor of the Viva la Visa studio and to ETC of PWD UK who manage the programme.
Results
We have seen a great development in the lives of these youth with disabilities, now through the Viva@GDPU programme they are able to advocate for social change through music. Their songs teach the community about changing their attitudes and develop the social wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Northern Uganda.
A total of 10 songs are now airing on radio station within Northern Uganda, songs in the categories of gospel, educative songs and dedicated music to mothers within Uganda.
Justification of needs.
More youth with disabilities within the community have taken keen interest in the music programme, they have seen their colleagues prospering through music.
All the 9 youth enrolled in the Viva@GDPU program have shown improved confidence, gained self-esteem, and improved significantly on the quality of music they are producing.
The Proposal
Therefore, we feel that:
1: post training support should be offered to the youth who graduated from their 6 months Viva training. Post training support will bridge the gaps in the real work of music, through mentorship support from experienced musicians within the community.
2: Due to the high number interested in the music programme, we would like to enroll more 6 youth and adults with disabilities for a 1 x year training programme in production, music recording and composing skills. They will be selected on their talents and passion for music, enabling them to showcase their abilities and teach the world about inclusion and togetherness through the power of music.
3: We would like to focus on developing two selected beneficiaries of the first cohort of Viva@GDPU project to become music producers at the Viva la Visa studio. The first six months gave them the opportunity to understand the different skills of production and we would like them to become full time producers by the end of the second cohort.
4: The proposed project will focus on awareness of disability and inclusion through the outreach music programme within rural communities, Viva@GDPU musicians will present their educative songs to the communities on market days in rural communities, this will help in pointing out the purpose of the studio.
5: The proposed project will also look at all aspects of recording video songs produced by the Viva La Visa Studio. It will give opportunity for the songs to be put up on TV channels around Uganda, on social media and streaming sites. We believe that a YouTube channel for the studio will be a good platform. Reaching every sector will be the next step for the Viva la visa studio mission.
6: The proposed project would also look at the sustainability part of the studio and how GDPU would sustain the project beyond funding from VIVA LA VISA. We would like to put up a good image for the studio that can attract more members from the community to pay for the services offered by the studio.
Conclusions
The second cohort will develop the themes of the Viva programme. In particular, by extending into the community. The first phase was intensive, and all involved learned a great deal about how to set up and run such an innovative programme.
The next phase of the programme is based around quality not capitation
This will:
A. Allow greater concentration on developing trainees’ abilities/ song quality/ technical skills etc.
B. Open up studio time for community access/ past trainees/ other PWDs with ability.
C. Give instructors time to develop their own capacities, both technical and curricular.
D. Cut down on waiting time for musicians, less hanging around, less time for potential nuisance.
E. As the programme develops, the instructors learn too, including new technical skills –new programmes, eg Logic Pro – and curricular, to develop their teaching capacity.
F. The extension programme will feature an outreach programme to rural communities/ market days etc.
Musema Faruk GDPU 2024
If you would like to know more about Viva La Visa please go to their website or Facebook Page
If you would like to know more about ETC of PWD please go to their website
If you would like to donate to ETC of PWD please go to their Donate page
If you would like to know more about Gulu Disabled Persons Union (GDPU) please go to their Facebook page
ETC of PWD 