Mukisa Children’s Community Centre: More than a swimming pool!

Mr. Muyunga and his Aspiring Artists

This September Mukisa Children’s Community Centre completed our second Mukisa Vibes school holiday camp. For three weeks, children from 3 to 10 years practiced netball skills, tie and dye, string painting, music and dance composition and ultimately participated in the Mukisa Olympics and the Mukisa Spectacular. On Saturdays the parents attended to view the children’s work and participate in Mukisa Challenges during these events. At our closing event, the Mukisa Spectacular, the co-founder, Sheila Kizito addressed the issue of the needs of children verses what they want. “When we were starting Mukisa, people were asking, is there a swimming pool? But when you come here you realize that this place is more than a swimming pool.” 

She expressed her gratitude to the art, music and sport Specialists for exposing the children to knowledge and skills most adults did not have at a young age. Activities and skills that help them develop physically, socially and emotionally. “I did art in secondary school, but you can’t imagine that this (string art) is what we used to do. But at such a tender age as they are, they already have this knowledge.” Meaning that exposure to these types of activities now will help to prepare them for appropriate responses to situations in the future. “Seeing the children play, bring out their art and the best of themselves is quite a good thing.”

“What are dreams if you don’t bring them out?” Jonathan Muyunga the Art Specialist asked. He added, “In art, we bring out that imagination, that vision that no one sees and it has helped to boost the children’s confidence when they say, yes I can do this or mummy I did this.”

Speaking directly to the parents, Joyce, co-founder of Mukisa, expressed her understanding that amidst the search for basic provisions and needs, it is difficult to find time to be present with their sons and daughters. However, she emphasized that in the end, “a hug is worth a million shillings”.

The ultimate acknowledgement came from our very first advocate parent, Ms. Irene Nagawa. Ms. Nagawa is a mother of four and has been a pioneer of the Mukisa Vibes camps. Her 5 year and 10-year-old sons attended both camps. “I have had my kids here since you started because they used to wake up at 3 or 4 am to start playing video games and sleep late so I would be shouting all the time. But ever since I brought them to Mukisa Vibes, there has been a big difference in my home.”

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