Claire Nakibule and Tony Sentammu, our Music for Children teachers who used to take saxophone lessons themselves from Monique Udo of Music for Children, when they were children and lived in a children’s home, had long aspired to start their own Music for Children neighborhood project together, with the first already advanced students being Sam and Racheal, whom they previously taught at Wipe a Tear.
In April 2023, they submitted a plan together to start a neighborhood project in the village of Buzzi, on the road from Entebbe to Kampala, close to where they lived. There they wanted to give music lessons and organize musical activities for children in the neighborhood who love music but have no access to it, orphans and poor children. The plan was to teach saxophones, melodica, guitar and singing, and when the children had learned some, to organize concerts in the church and the neighborhood. After getting agreement from the MoK board, they set to work finding and refurbishing a classroom and recruiting children door to door. That went well, we provided instruments and the project started. Unfortunately, after a few weeks, some of the neighbors said they were bothered by the music, so the project could not continue in this neighborhood.
Therefore, not to worry. Energetically, Claire and Tony looked for another location in another neighborhood and found a new location in Kajjansi, where the community was really happy with them and soon children were participating. As Claire and Tony learned from the previous, they now wanted to officially register and get permission from the community and local government. With our support, a registration process followed and by the end of October the time had come. The official name became ‘Happy Children Music Initiative’ and the project officially started. In December 2023, two music weeks were organized in addition to the regular lessons, which ended around Christmas in HCMI’s first concert with then already 15 students! With some of the students they also performed together with students from Africa Music School, where Claire also teaches on behalf of Music for Children.
I am so happy when I see the now already 20 children practising to play. When they had their first performance for Christmas they were so proud. Then I really know why we go through all the efforts to realize this.
-Claire, coordinator of HCMI
The exchange was inspiring for everyone. There are now 20 students.
Claire: “As the founders of this project we realised how music has been a life changing and talent developing success in our lives. As a number of kids in this community where we grew up have no opportunity to go to school or develop their talents we, as HCMI, want to bring music lessons to develop their talents, skilling them and so improve their ways of living and life management. We also want to be life changing to the community of Kajjansi through our services in music education skills and performance opportunities to children of all ages and abilities in all aspects of music industry.“
