Refugee & Hope International to select Uganda community Art skill Development and Recycling,(UCASDR) team member to train music and dance to the refugees living in Kampala Kansanga on voluntary basis for one month.

JUST A SMILE   

It was great fun at Refugee and Hope International Kansanga, Uganda as a the youth from different countries and several cultures coming together to sing and dance their music and dance in a talent show under the theme “I GO THE MILE”.

I was so privileged to volunteer as the performing arts trainer, through which I got a chance to train and guide music and dance rehearsals for one month before the talent show. Each country and culture was represented as far as music and dance is concerned.

Several countries were represented including Uganda, Congo, North Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Nigeria. You can imagine how exciting it was to dance and sing the cultural music and dances of all these countries.

Someone may ask ……”what was the intention for such a performing arts item?” Here is the simple answer. For such a community of refugees, an item of singing and dancing their cultural music and dance means a lot to them. First and foremost singing and dancing their music works as a psychological therapy from the effects of war, conflicts and displacement. This music and dance brings back the good memories experienced back at home and increases the hope that one day they will go back home.

In addition the talent show intended to increase socialization and teamwork among these people that come from different parts of the world. After all the pain and sorrow that come with wars and displacement, separation from family and loved ones, the refugees need someone to talk to, to share life experience with, someone to show them love and care, someone to bring a smile on their faces. A smile, just a smile is all they need to keep on moving.

Therefore I was so much happy and touched whenever we smiled together, shared life experiences and moments of fun and happiness during the course of the music and dance training. It was overwhelming learning the music and cultural dances of all the countries mentioned above.

 At long last the long awaited day was there for us to rejoice in! You need to have been there for you to understand what I am talking about. Many items were presented among which were singing, rapping, modeling, drama, fashion show, poems and of course the mighty item; cultural dance.

The cultural music and dance was extremely exciting…… as I played the drums for each of the cultural dance, I felt like heaven was on earth, and as each culture stepped forward to present their dance, the audience could not hold it any longer, so everyone stood up to join us and the whole venue was wild with dancing, ululations, clapping, cheering and enjoying the different cultural music and dance. It was indeed an evening back home!

Support the refugees and other people in need morally, socially, and materially whenever you can

Geradine  kiconco

Ugandan graduate

 Bachelor’s degree in music

Makerere University.