Help Complete Nakivale Young Artist Education Center

Help this Young, Refugee-led Community Based Organization in Uganda - the Nakivale Young Talent Community - raise $3,400 to complete and launch their life-changing Arts Education Center.

Founded in 2021 by 22-year old Congolese refugee artist Akon Deograce together with several artist friends, Nakivale Young Talent Community (NYTC) is an artist collective and education center for 40 young talented artists ages 5 to 15 in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda.

The artists are in the process of building a new arts education center to move their current operations out of a make-shift, exposed-to-the-elements, unsafe wooden shelter rented from a local friend at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda to their very own brick-built Arts Education Center. The current location recently suffered an electrical fire proving that the space is not an appropriate location to teach children nor to store precious artwork.

Despite the frustration of not having a safe place to each and work, they find moments of joy and celebration. Here, with lead mentor/trainer Krehim Sharon on guitar, some of the artists sing the Nakivale Young Talent Community theme song.

"This project is not just about constructing a building; it's about building a future. By transforming everyday objects into art, we have already shown the world the potential of creativity and sustainability. Now, with your support, we can create a space where young talents can flourish, learn and inspire others. Every contribution will help us lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow, proving that with unity and determination we can turn dreams into reality." - AKon Deograce, Founder of NYTC.

Art Education Center Progress To Date

Phase 1 was started in Fall 2023 but stalled due to lack of funds. The foundation and half of the walls for the new Arts Education Center were built, but with rainy season approaching in 2024, the structure was at risk of destruction.

First phase of the Arts Education Center started Fall 2023 but incomplete due to lack of funds, exposed to elements and incoming rainy season.

With additional funds provided by Emily Kaminsky from teaching summer art classes, Phase 1 was completed with walls fully built and roof installed July 2024.

Phase 1 complete in July 2024.

Help us Complete the Arts Education Center!

We are now launching this GoFundMe fundraiser to advance to Phase 2 and complete the Arts Education Center. As the Tanzanian proverb from the Haya people goes, "Many Hands Make Light Work!"

Tokens of Appreciation for Your Support

Vision & Mission: "At Nakivale Young Talent Community we believe in the potential of every individual. Our mission is to promote skills and talents among refugee children, youth, and women, empowering them to create a better life for themselves and their families."

The following video was produced to highlight the refugee artists' process as they prepared for World Refugee Day June 2024.

Artist and Teacher Josby, age 15, leads children as young as five years old in an art program.

Nakivale Young Talent Community artist and teacher Stephen Balome demonstrates proportions for drawing the human head.

Currently, the artists create and teach in a makeshift structure that is not secured and has no protection from the elements. It recently suffered an electrical fire, putting both lives and artwork at risk. It's time to move them out!

Despite the circumstances, the artists are joyfully producing art and teaching the next generation of Nakivale Refugee Settlement artists.

Help These Young Artists Finish What They Started! A new Art Education Center!

In 2023, Nakivale Young Talent Community artists pooled their funds together to start building a new Art Education Center on a piece of donated land. After raising contributions from friends and family totaling $500, they managed to build the bottom half of the building. Completion of the building stalled due to lack of funds.

Since that time, friend and supporter Emily Kaminsky of RainMaker Design in the United States has donated proceeds from a summer's worth of art teaching classes to cover the first $660 of building costs. This amount ensured that the building has a roof and is secure and safe from the destructive potential of the rainy season (September to December). This leaves $3,000 remaining to raise.

Unfinished NYTC Art Educaton Center

Work started on the second phase of building the Art Education Center in July 2024.

The walls were finished and a stable roof installed to protect the structure from the coming rains.

Short video showing progress on Phase 2 with music by Antoinette Rootsdawtah.

Much of the above structure was built from hand-made bricks, the materials for which were dug directly from the soil on the land next to the building.

Artists help move bricks in preparation for completing the Arts Education Center with your support!

Even after a days work of moving bricks, the artists are eager to keep going and complete the Center.

Current Programming

In the current makeshift structure which is built with sticks, UNHCR plastic wrapping and a tin roof, 15 dedicated artist teachers serve 40 children. Students aged 15-25 learn Monday through Friday from 8 am to 12 noon. Students aged 5-14 learn on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm.

Proposed Programming Once Facility Complete

Once the facility is complete, NYTC will be able to grow its artist teacher faculty to include four additional teachers specializing in sewing and English.

NYTC envisions providing the following programming:

Art Education: A new building will allow them to provide art instruction to more than the current 40 children.

Sewing Skills for Women & Teenage Mothers: Sewing skills will be taught to women and teenage mothers, with classes being held Monday through Friday from 2 pm to 4:30 pm.

English for Adults: Residents of the Nakivale Refugee Settlement come from 13 countries in East Africa facing conflict and war. The official language of Uganda is English. Classes will be taught to help refugees become proficient in writing and speaking English. Classes will be held three times a week in the afternoon for two hours.

Expected Impact of Programming

"These programs are more than just educational opportunities; they are lifelines for our community," says 22-year old Akon Deograce, Founding Director of Nakivale Young Talents Community. "By offering art education, we are not only nurturing creativity but also teaching the importance of sustainability and the power of repurposed materials."

This collaborative multi-media piece was created with sewed-on recycled plastic bottle caps.

Akon goes on to explain that NYTC will boost income generating opportunities for refugees as well through the sewing and English language lessons: "Our sewing skills program will provide young mothers with the means to supporting themselves and their families. The English for Adults program will open doors to better communication, job opportunities and a brighter future."

It's More than a Building

The new Arts Education Center will be dedicated to developing education skills and talent. Though they don't plan on renting out the space, it will serve as a dynamic venue for various events.

Art Exhibitions: The AEC will be the perfect spot for art exhibitions, providing a platform for the students to display their creativity and gain community recognition.

Artists have experience preparing for and putting on art exhibits like this online Art Exposition held June 1, 2024 with American partners.

Nakivale Young Fashion Shows: Every month, the AEC will be host to youth fashion shows, featuring showcases and performances that bring the community together and celebrate youths' diverse talents.

Monthly fashion shows at Nakivale Refuge Settlement organized by NYTC.

Income Generating Opportunities: The AEC generates income through the sale of art proceeds and proceeds from art exhibitions. This vital revenue supports the expansion and enhancement of NYTC's community programs.

With your donation, we can finish the Art Education Center and level up this talented and committed group of refugee artists and mentors.

Construction Completion Budget: $3,400

The following construction completion budget indicates line by line what is needed to bring the facility into reality.

Materials: $850

Construction Labor - Masons & Laborers ($400)

Remaining Roofing Materials: $450

Doors & Materials: $250

Plumbing & Electrical: $250

Toilets: $350

Rainwater Tank: $300

Finishing Materials: $350

Miscellaneous: $200

About Akon Deograce, Founding Director of NYTC

In the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a child named Akon Deograce was born. Amidst the bustling life of a large family, Akon’s aspirations transcended the ordinary; he was drawn to the arts and yearned to create and inspire. Akon’s childhood was a tapestry of vibrant dreams and harsh realities. As he stood on the cusp of secondary school, his life was upended by the chaos of war, a brutal reminder of life’s fragility. The family, once a sanctuary of love and laughter for fourteen souls, was tragically fragmented by the conflict, leaving only seven survivors. Akon, alongside his kin, embarked on a treacherous odyssey, a test of endurance and spirit. The roads became transient shelters, each step forward a testament to their resilience. The turning point came when they were taken to the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, a place that marked a new chapter in Akon’s life. “Amidst my humble beginnings at the Settlement, I learned the value of community and resilience. Each day was a lesson in survival and solidarity, as we shared what little we had and supported each other’s dreams. From the long walks to school to the late nights selling bananas, my journey has been one of resilience and hope. I have carried water at dawn and shared biscuits with refugee children, all while dreaming of a better world. In 2021, I founded Nakivale Young Talent Community. This initiative became my life mission, channeling my passion for change into action. It was a commitment to lift others as I climbed, to turn the tide of despair into waves of opportunity for the children, youth, women and teenage mothers of my community. I have become a voice of the voiceless, a champion of the underdog, and a leader of the next generation. I am a change maker.

About Nakivale Young Talent Community

NYTC germinated as an idea by Deograce in 2021. In 2022, he worked with founding member artists to launch programming in 2022. NYTC became a registered Community Based Organization with the local Isingiro District Local Government on September 8, 2023. Initial construction on the AEC started shortly thereafter in Fall 2023.

NYTC Members and Officers include:

Where is Nakivale Refugee Settlement?

Nakivale is located in Southwest Uganda and is the oldest refugee settlement in Africa, established in 1959 when the Tutsis fled one of the first conflicts in Rwanda.

Nakivale Settlement sits on 71 square miles and houses 182,000 refugees as of December 2023. The settlement is made up of 79 villages each with an average of 800-1,000 people. The population is primarily made up of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uganda is just east of Democratic Republic of Congo.