Last day of working on art. Kyeyune (CHEW-nay) and Ochen (oh-CHEN) learned how to superimpose a grid on a photo and enlarge a drawing from it. They chose the newspaper photo of Obama. There wasn’t much to do after that, and of course there was a shredded soccer ball nearby. And by now they have new friends; these kids are good football players! I just realized that I enjoy being with them, and will miss them. I’m feeling a little wistful as a heavy rain falls. We came home at a good time as it turns out; safe and dry under the roof. Tomorrow we sign prints, hang the art, show the photographs, and celebrate what we have all done.
Each student was assigned to write a profile: Name, Age, Where are you from, What would you like to change about the world or yourself, Anything else about your life. Go to full post for transcriptions.

Nabasirye Vanessa, 11, Mbuya Hill, Kampala. I would like to unite the world, stop segregation, and I believe that if we all love one another and live in unity, the world will live as one. And I also thank the be who organized this Art conference because they have brought children from different districts and regions, some from North, South, East, West. I like Art. Thank u.

Akogizibwe Ronald, 11, Fort Portal. I would like to change classes. Father, Mother Gorreti, sister Kahunde Shiller, 14, brother Solomoni, 6.

Kyeyune Abdul, 13, Mbuya Hill in Kampala. Promote free movement in all African countries. Leaders should stop corruption. People should avoid tribalism. To promote equal care among people in the country. I like playing football and my best club is Manchester United.

Ochen Ronald, 13, Mutungo. I want peace to be promoted in Uganda and all other African countries. I like playing football and watching it. I support Manchester United.

My name is Kyobe George William. I am 13 years old. I come from Lyantonde district. I am in Kampala at Fred Mutebi’s home and am happy of being there. I would like to change football in order to play well not playing badly.

I am Ugandan girl aged 14 years. My name is Wanyana Angel. I was born Kibone. I go to school at Kisaasi Primary School. I am in Primary Seven. In future I would like to be lawyer. I grew up with my father, we are four in the family, two brothers and sister. I would like to change on my studies. I have been perform [poorly, crossed out] well, but I want to add more performance. I help me to perform well as you can. This is my profile written by Wanyana Angel.

I am called Katerega Paul and I am 14 ½ years old. I come from Mutungo in Kampala, and I am in S-3 at Crane High School in Kintintale. I am living with my mother, and my mother is HIV positive, but I myself, I am negative. I would like to change the services that the AIDS patients get because some leaders are corrupt and they eat the AIDS patients money that is brought to them from outside countries.

Am called Kagezi Joan, of age 16 years, with five step brothers and sister alone in my father and mother’s womb. I come from Bulenga, seven miles from Kampala on Mityana road since 2005, after shifting from Nateete. I once had a brother who was the youngest in my father & mother’s womb, but then died in 2003 there being internal bleeding coming from a fight with our step sister. About my life I have a lot to say and tell you people. I’ve been an AIDS virus carrier since I was a child and I have suffered a lot where by I got very sick and had to be admitted for two months suffering from tuberculosis. I sometimes used to think of dying because I was getting fed up of this sickness. But when I trusted God I started trying to go to internet café’s to get new friends from different countries but failed thinking that no white person would like to be a friend to a dying person. So I lost hope and stopped writing to pals in different countries. But it’s not that I don’t want Uganda friends, but once I try getting them, my step sisters start telling them about my status whereby they abandon me. So what I wanted to change in my life is at least to get a family abroad who can at least give me comfort and be my friends. And I want to know and at least have hope that I will one day be far from my step sisters and brothers who hate me so much with all their hearts. Please help me find friends and families through the internet who don’t fear carriers of this disease. I myself like you people so much because you people are trying to help us improve our talents and give hope of one day being prosperous. So may God bless and reward you abundantly with all your families because you are good people. That’s all. Have a nice time my friends. Says Joan Kagezi. Love yu.

I am called Okello Collins Monday, am 16 years old. I come from Gulu. I am an orphan and I was abducted in the year 2004 and stayed in the bush for some days. Then I escaped. For me as an artist I would like use art as a medium of communicating to the entire people about the dangers and how to control AIDS, because these days AIDS is at a very high rate and killing many, day and night. And for me as an artist, I hope through art, the high spread of HIV virus will become limited. Secondly, for me as a war victim, and I come from the war affected region, I would like to use art to demonstrate to the outside world about the dangers of war, because I have ever experienced, and I don’t need it to happen to other people, even though the war in Northern has not yet ended. I hope through faith and God’s mercy the Northern insurgency will come to an end, and through art work, numbers of AIDS patients will reduce, so long as there is unity and hard work.

I am Mugira Steven, aged 16 the previous year, and am heading to 17 this year. I come from Hoima district, but stay in Kampala with my mom. Am a fan of football and volleyball, with the preference in studying most to acquire my dreams. I like recognition from neighboring states about the wealth and participation of African citizen in welfares of the Nation. Maybe also acquiring knowledge from neighboring states.

My name is Nakalembe Ruth, I am 17 years old. I am a Ugandan by nationality, living in Kampala. I am a student still at high school, in senior six. My father died in 2001, and he died by AIDS. I live with my mother, as well as my three sisters and one brother. I am the third born. I was once diagnosed HIV positive in the year 2003, which was later found out to be HIV negative in the year 2007, after carrying out several HIV tests. I was put on drugs, that is septrine and combivre for six month. This test in 2003 was done after a check up from my mother who was HIV positive. I carried out four tests with Joint Clinic Research Centre of Gulu in 2008, and they were all showing negative results. So this message goes to all the youths, those who are positive as well as those who are negative: Those who are positive, it’s not a crime nor a curse for you to have such a status. Don’t blame anyone, you still have a chance to live up to your expectations, that is not the end of the world. There is still a second chance for you to live, and that second chance is “NOW” since you’ve known your status early enough. Never criticize yourself anymore, because the world needs you. To those who are negative, you should put in consideration that, “Life is not a bed of Roses,” it has got no spare parts. Life is what you make it, so protect yourselves and have positive ideas. Don’t long for what you don’t have, for it will cost you, but always work hard to get what you need as well as accepting the little that you have. In doing so, everything will come your way !!!! Namukrose@yahoo.com

My name is Rubanga Kene Geoffrey, I am 18 years old, and I came from Gulu district, which is in northern part of Uganda. Something about my life: I live just a simple life, and spend most of my time planning for the betterment of my future, along side learning, and Art work is also my most favorable activity, [that] I like whenever I am free, and I would like it to be my destiny for the rest of my life. So that is something brief about my life. I would like to change my life from an ordinary person to an artist, and with your support I will be a good Artist, since it’s God’s gift to me. Apart from art, I would also like to be a lawyer after my further studies. So above mentioned, are all about my profile.

Sserugunda Ronald. I am of age 20 year, putting up in Mutundwe town, in Kampala district. I designed the drawing of the lady in the Gomesi, holding a shield trying to fight. I have three sisters and three brothers, with me being the fourth. We live together in the place I’ve mentioned above. I love art very much, that I always want to keep on improving my talent and become a famous artist in future. I have a white friend called Christine, but I also still want to get more who can give me new ideas about art and market them for me. What I want in life to change, is to get a chance to go abroad and visit the places far from Uganda. Thank for giving me a chance to show you what I have, and also improving my talent. [written down by Joan, for Ronald]