Last Sunday we had a great workshop with musician and composer Macri Cáceres from Peru. Thank you so much for your time and effort- the participants didn’t stop making music after the workshop ended thanks Goethe-Institut Perú for your support!

Our 40 kids sponsored by German godmothers and godfathers are super excited to go back to school! After two years rather working on the fields at their parents home, they’re looking forward to sit on the bench again and study hard.

January 10th is the magic date when schools will finally open!

Today we met for christmas painting, music and food ❤

And this is how it looked like in the end 🙂

Instead of the festival, we have been doing bigger and smaller workshops and started some activities in the last weeks. These include the 20-day workshop with young people from the village for the construction of “Kabatoonda Araali”, the new sculpture, regular meetings of women for Toonda Crafts and the creation of a music video. The group from Kyakataama had written a song especially for Toonda, with which they wanted to compete in the planned talent competition. Since the competition could not take place due to Corona, we made a music video on the premises of Toonda. You can also see our new statue and the just finished theater ❤ The music video was shot and edited by Sam from Tooro production, Fort Portal. As a volunteer Leonie Linke was there to support him with the filming. Thanks to all involved!

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hl_sxG5-Gc

Schools are still closed in Uganda. They should only be reopen, if teachers and teenage schoolkids are vaccinated – so said the government.

Meanwhile schools have been closed for almost 1,5 years. Teachers are worried that to re-enter school will be tough for many pupils and therefore kids might drop out.

That’s why we decided together with Rwihamba Advantage Nursery and Primary school to find a way to work with the children regarding the current regulations.

Instead of sending 40 kids to school with the help of their individual sponsors, we’ll use the money of the term to send the teachers to the schoolkids. So 330 kids will benefit from this over the next two months. The teachers will drop and pick up homework and answer all the questions of their students. This way they can repeat what they ve learned so far and get back into ‘school mood’.

Teachers, students, families – everyone is happy about the Smart Kyakataama program for the next two months ❤️

As we’re still having regulations regarding events, we’re trying to figure out what is possible to do this dry season to start the Cultural Community Center.

Talent Competitions, Parties, Concerts and Performances are post-poned for now. At least until more people can gather and it’ll be fun for everyone.

But what we can do, is to put up a fantastic small program with awesome workshops, some games and inspiration to empower each other to get us all through difficult times.

So stay tuned for our program as we’re working out the last details. ❤️

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Since carpenter Michi arrived, the theater is becoming reality! Have a look!

Our first Artist@CommunityWork Anna Myga Kasten from Germany visited Toonda and worked on the Model of the Toonda Theater, which we currently construct. We’re excited about our soon to be heart of the Community Center!!! Thank you to Anna Kasten (Design & Model) & Lars Kasten (Design & Technical Planning)!!! We’d also like to thank the German Embassy of Uganda for their support!
Please help us to make the theater reality and donate at https://gofund.me/11471cd2

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For the big opening of Toonda Cultural Community Center we’ll be having a one month festival, starting August 18^th 2021. Full of workshops with international artists and lectures about everything the community is interested in. Activities, movie-nights and live-performances – the full program will follow soon!

As a result of the festival we would like to encourage weekly/monthly meetings of different groups here at TOONDA. The use of the facility will be free of charge.

We’re super happy to welcome Mandy, Thu, Anna and Macri soon in Kyakataama at Toonda Cultural Community Center – check them out here Artists @ Community Work – Toonda