Project Location
Ocheng Village, Nansana Town council is 12kilometers North-West of Kampala the capital of Uganda, in Wakiso District in central region of Uganda.
Project Background
UPA Cultural troupe is committed to promote community sensitization and awareness through music, dance and drama. The Cultural troupe started in 1994 as a pilot project of UPA. The troupe was started mainly to be used for promoting cultures, running awareness campaigns, fundraising and marketing UPA and her activities.
Project Objectives
- To promote intercultural cooperation among youth and other group members.
- To enhance educational awareness through music dance and drama.
- To make local musical instruments for the Cultural Troupe, schools and the local community.
- To enhance knowledge and skills sharing through music, dance and drama.
Activities
- Making and construction of different music instruments for the Troupe
- Drama, and music and dancing sessions
- Making dancing and drama costumes
Expected Outcome
- After the work camp participants will have acquired music, dance and drama skills.
- 2 street performances conducted for sensitisation
- 2 theatre performances conducted for fundraising
- Traditional music instruments shall be made.
- Musical, dance and drama costumes made
Cultural and educational visits
- A visit to Wamala tombs a 197 years old cultural heritage which is the burial ground for the 29th King of Buganda, the late Ssekabaka Suuna II Kalema Kasinjo Mukaabya Sekkyungwa who reigned from 1832 until October 1856.
- Visiting Nansana Community market
- Climbing Kabulengwa hill to have a view of all Nansana and surrounding suburbs.
Note: There is also the possibility of visiting the Uganda Museum, Entebbe Wild life Education Centre and Botanical beach gardens all found in a radius of not more than 40 kilometres from the camp site but at the cost of interested volunteers. A cultural night will be organised and participants will display items, songs and dances from their home countries and traditions.
Beneficiaries
- The beneficiaries are the UPACT members, workcamp participants and community.
Participation
The project expects 25 participants maximum with a composition of people from Uganda, regional and International volunteer organisations. Participants will work 6 hours daily from Monday to Friday. Weekends are for social interaction and/ or excursions unless if the official camp programme has an activity
Who qualify to participate
- Open minded, ready to interact with other people of different cultural background
- Willing to share his/her experiences
- Flexible to live/stay in simple life conditions
- Flexible to the taste of other foods (local)
- Ready to work on the projects
- No experience needed
The Host Community
The people in this part of Uganda are multi tribal with the majority population being Baganda. And the major language spoken is Luganda also a big percentage of people speaking English well. The major food eaten in this region matoke, cassava, sweet potatoes, rice, beans, ground nuts, yams etc. Like most regions in Uganda people in this community always welcome visitors and always interested to talk/work with people from other cultural backgrounds
Accommodation
- We shall provide simple rooms for sleeping
- Participant will use their sleeping bags and mats
- The camp site has simple bathrooms with no showers
- The camp site has latrines not toilets
- And a simple cooking shelter (kitchen)
- Participants are requested to bring with them mosquito nets, working clothes and shoes
- If any games, information/pictures from home country bring them
Meals
- There several local foods, matooke, cassava, sweet potatoes,
- Yams, pumpkin and also rice, spaghetti, meat, fish, ground nuts, beans, peas and different types green vegetables
- Fruits can also be easily bought from local markets, mangoes, sweet bananas, water melon, pineapples etc
- Participants will chose food to prepare depending on the availability
Health Services
Nansana has several medical clinics at distance of less than a kilo meter and the main hospitals are situated in a radius of 12Kilometres in Kampala
Water Source
- The water source is 600 metres away from the camp site
Climate
October lies in the second rain season. It is characterized by both hot and wet. It is normally sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoons, but shines again shortly after. Temperatures range between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.
What to Bring
Participants shall be required to bring own sleeping bag, Mat, pillow, Mosquito Net, sun/mosquito creams/repellents, working gloves and boots/shoes. Light working clothes during working hours and warm clothes at night, as it may turn out to be chilly or cold; Musical instrument {optional}; Torch or flash light; Water purifiers {optional}; Personal effects {i.e. soap, toothpaste, toiletries.
Bringing your national flag, common art facts of your country; stories, games, picture and local recipes for cultural presentations from your country is advisable too for social interaction. Please carry along anything that you feel can well introduce you and your culture to make it enjoyable. Above all do not forget a happy and positive attitude and energy. NB: Very short (Hot pants); skirts and dresses will not be culturally welcome especially for female. Smoking in public is illegal while engagement in drug/harsh carries a life prison sentence.