UgandARTS
There are thousands of vulnerable-traumatized children who need normalcy in their lives and a future with no fear.
Located in the war torn district of Pader (Northern part of Uganda), Friends of Orphans (FRO) was formed to reduce the vulnerability of child mothers, orphans, former child soldiers, abductees and women and protect their rights. FRO founder Anywar Ricky Richard, an ex-child soldier and survivor of the war, conceived FRO with his friends in 1999 to rehabilitate, reintegrate and empower those impacted by the conflict and HIV/AIDS in Northern Uganda. FRO aims to do this through education, health, and peace-building activities, including the use of arts. If you are not familiar with the IDP camps and the story of northern Uganda, please watch the WARDANCE movie. WARDANCE documents the heartbreaking stories of children who have witnessed suffering in the middle of a war-zone in northern Uganda: http://www.wardancethemovie.com
FRO has received the 'Freedom Awards 2008' from Free the Slaves, for being a remarkable example of an "organization working to prevent and eliminate slavery and bringing survivors to lasting freedom". Please see the formal announcement at http://www.freetheslaves.net and watch the FRO documentary here. Learn more about Friends of Orphans at http://www.frouganda.org. Friends of Orphans needs your support!
Art4Development.Net met with Anywar Ricky, listened to FRO volunteers, and based on their needs developed the UgandARTS project to help FRO create a therapeutical arts program and identify resources to help with especially collecting instruments like Base Drum, Side Drum, Drum Major Stick, Cymbal, Trumpets, Trombone, Bases, Baritones, French Horn, and Sousaphones.Friends of Orphans Arts Program: UgandARTS Project has been featured at the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association publication Edition No.2. To learn more about the project please see the UgandARTsProject PDF document and have a look at UgandARTS PSA on YouTube.
(Friends of Orphans Band marching during graduation in Pader Town Northern Uganda)
Join our efforts and support Friends of Orphans in Uganda. To date we donated $2000 to FRO for the UgandARTS effort. Do you have any used and/or new instruments? If you have any resources that can help the UgandARTS project please get in touch with FRO at ngomkwaro@frouganda.org
Select Project Related Documents:
IEATA Featuring UgandARTS Project (International Expressive Arts Therapy Association publication Edition No.2)
UgandARTS Project Presentation
UgandARTS Poster
Call for Instruments
Friends of Orphans Brochure
Resource: How Arts Can Benefit