Viva Wer Waa: music for empowerment proposal for third cohort
Viva la Visa studio and the Viva@GDPU training programme is a music for social change project aimed at:
- Talent development through building capacity of youth in music,
- Amplifying and advocating for the rights of people with disability (PWDs) through the power of music.
- Improving the livelihood of the project beneficiaries and to improve the quality of songs produced by PWDs in Uganda.
Viva la Visa so far:
In 2023 the project was successfully implemented with the establishment of the first music studio for persons with disabilities in Uganda. The studio focused on soft skills training in music for 10 direct beneficiaries (8 Male 2 Female). They were taken through 8 month’s intensive training on music production skills and vocal training in singing and operating instruments at a local level. An extension of the project was made in 2024 where 6 new music artists were supported in a 12 months training in music production and recording alongside supporting the previous graduates.
The Viva la Visa studio
The studio’s main goal is to promote the local content, especially the use of local instruments, bringing the unique Ugandan traditional sounds and music to the whole world to enjoy. Over 40 songs and 13 (thirteen) videos have been made so far, with one documentary made showing the impact of the Viva la visa studio on our beneficiaries.
Through this grant support from Viva La Visa we have witnessed a great change in the social wellbeing and integration of youth with disabilities, the studio (Viva la visa) has enabled youth to advocate for change through music, and seek employment through composing traditional marriage and praise songs for example: – Gospel songs, lakubukubu songs (Luo traditional songs) and Luo tunes to the community.
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.
Viva Wer Waa Project Summary
- The new phase of the project (now called Viva Wer Waa (our song in Luo) seeks to identify a music promoter whose responsibilities is to promote, market and link our artist to opportunities that facilitates their growth and development in Music.
- The new phase of the music plus empowerment project seeks to offer post training support for the youth who have graduated from the first two cohort 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 4 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 / U 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 artist to be able to write and record their songs.
- Develop the profile of the artist at the studio to the general public through a functional website for the music program.
- 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.
Viva wer Waa: justification of needs.
More youth with disabilities within the communities have taken keen interest in the music program, they have seen their colleagues prospering through music, all the 16-youth enrolled in the Viva la visa program has shown improved confidence, gained self-esteem and improved on the quality of music they are producing.
Therefore, we feel post training support should be offered to the youth who have graduated from the Viva Music program. We strongly believe post training support will bridge the gaps in the real work of music for the youth, through mentorship support from experienced musicians within the community, organizing shows, linkages and partnership with members in the community.
Viva Wer Waa: training proposal
We would like to focus on developing two selected beneficiaries for both cohort of viva la visa project to become music producers at the Viva la visa studio, the six months’ support has given 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.
Viva Wer Waa: outreach proposal
The proposed project proposal will also focus on awareness creation of disability and inclusion through the outreach music program within rural communities. Viva la visa 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.
Viva Wer Waa: promotion
The proposed project will also look at the aspect of recording video songs for some of the songs produced by the beneficiaries of Viva La Visa Studio, this will give opportunity for the songs to be put up on TV channels around Uganda and internationally.
Continue with the culture of uploading the songs on social media and streaming sites will be another aspect for the project, making every sector running will be the next steps for the Viva la visa studio mission for the next phase of the program. We believe that having a YouTube channel for the studio will also be a good platform to share music videos and on different streaming sites for all beneficiaries of the studio.
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 promote a good image for the studio so that we can also attract more members from the community to pay for the services offered by the studio, the studio plans to offer training at a reduced price to the community.
Viva Wer Waa: long term sustainability
The proposed project seeks to build capacity of the leaders under the Uganda association for artist with disabilities, with skills of how to handle youth with disabilities, finance, Marketing develop their skills in production and playing instrumentals.
Lastly, we have learnt from the first cohort, the challenges faced during the implementation of skills gaps, software challenges, implementation strategies, and challenges meals for the students. Pilot programs always show learning points and provide the opportunity to improve on the new proposed project to create a big change in the lives of the youth.
Duration of the proposed project
Twelve months
Target number of beneficiaries
The beneficiaries to be enrolled in the program will be those who already make music recording/singing. We will focus on output because we will be in position to identify 2 trained music producers from the current batch of students.
The proposed project will have only one cohort to support 2 new trainees all round with skills of singing and playing the instruments for a period of one year.
Want To Know More?
If you would like to know more about the ETC of PWD charity that manages the Vplus plus 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) 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 