Nyege Nyege Fest 3.4//Uganda
What happened when I took a group of EMPOWERED Ugandan youth, to a music festival, to talk about periods.
In the days that follow, I adjust to the heat and faces from the past visit the house from time to time. The ingredients for a meeting begin to gather and again I start to question Why am I here? Sarah and I had been talking the year before about this Festival that happens in Uganda, about how I had to go to get the full experience of Uganda. I had seen a Boiler Room DJ set from the festival and thought it looked cool but hadn’t given it anymore thought. Then Sarah messages. She shared a post from the festival organisers, they were looking for organisations to run their own events and activities at a selection of alternative venues in the city.
Well, when you speak about something enough times eventually it becomes a reality.
Whilst sat on a bench in Reykjavik, watching the erupting volcano in the distance whilst speaking to Sarah on the phone. We talked about the possibility of taking +256 Youth Platform to Nyege Nyege. Sometime later she hosted Medie and a few of the boxers at her place. We had a video call whilst they BBQ’d and talked through some ideas. I shared minutes, we delagated tasks to prep for it. And then I booked my ticket.
We didn’t have confirmation of A. who would actually be involved and B. if we had a venue. But when you sense something move you, you move with it.
Flow state.
Now I’m being greeted by young people visiting the compound. Our guests start to introduce themselves; name, age, what year they are at school, as they so often do. Although words had been shared, intentions spoken, ensuring that this wasn’t me dictating what we should do - the ideas were all straight from the young people of this community - we were being moved by the youth energy.
Everyone who knows +256 Youth Platform knows the force that it is. I’ve met other muzungus who worked with them and I was I met some of the other board members who each shared their own experiences of this network of empowered young people tucked away in rural Uganda. This is youth energy. Youth leaders. For young people, by young people. And it is the nature of what Medie created, this sense of family and care taking that so many people have been drawn to.
Of course everyone here wanted to promote the work of +256, they are incredibly passionate about the the impact it’s had on their lives. And yet, a few days later, after we had adjusted the loose plan to better suit the capacity of the group, I was starting to acknowledge that I was now leading on this. Medie had taken a step back from programmes, something he had needed to do for sometime but he could never bring himself to, he would never turn someone away and he shares everything he has - a place to sleep, food, contacts. His focus now was on working on getting policies changed in government, he had done all he could on the ground. Benja, the young boy I had met years before, the one who’s story I would go on to share time and time again, this young boy who told me ever since he learnt about periods, he would buy pads when he had money to take to school and share with anyone who needed them - take that anyone who thinks talking about periods is just for woman. This young boy redefined what it means to be a man. He was now the president, overseeing the project, alongside studying to become a nurse, naturally.
Half of the people who said they wanted to be involved, weren’t here and are no longer available. There were a small group of people who were keen and able, so we made a budget and I provided the money to get some t-shirts printed, for travel to and around the city for the duration of the festival, and food for us all. All out of my own pocket. Who do I think I am?
Some people I know spend £1000s on holidays, or on renovations, or cars. Me? I’m taking four guys I don’t know to the city to a festival, to promote themselves, educate the public about menstruation and see what happens.
Naturally.
Sarah kindly allows us to stay at her place, we carry the tents, banners, pads, and personal items by boda boda, three to a bike plus the luggage. The guys camp in the compound, I stay in the house with Sarah, her daughter and teenage sister she’s been housing. I chase things up with the organisers and they confirm we can set up at a bar. It’s happening. We go to check out the venue, get a feel for it, not without being accosted by the police at least once or twice.
The bar, Sarah says, is in a good location; we are by the football pitch and there will be a match that everyone comes to over the weekend. As the task of getting prepared, the nerves began to set in and people became shy. Part of this experience, beyond promoting the wonderful work of +256, I saw this as an opportunity for personal and professional development for the young people. My background is in youth work, providing opportunities for individuals to explore different environments to develop their skills if my bag - and this was a fine example that you get out what you put in.
Part of my love for +256 was the amount of young men within the organisation who not only knew about menstruation, they ran workshops teaching how to make reusable pads and they rapped about it. Boys! Men! Well these specific young men who had accompanied me to the festival weren’t quite as clued up. What made matter worse, they were deflated. There was no foot traffic to run the outdoor gym sessions the boxers had planned. So we had more time to get the boys up to speed to sell reusable pads.
I had brought a mini mic with me for Sarah to experiment making content with. She started talking through the reusable products with them and led a discussion, amongst ourselves that I recorded. The guys practiced their spiel on the bar staff. I responded to a message from the event organiser I had been in contact with.
The team would be granted wristbands to access to the festival - for free. All of us!
In months, weeks and days leading up to the festival I had contemplated buying a ticket, if I needed to experience it as Sarah had said it’s a must. I wouldn’t have wanted to go alone but if I were to buy a ticket for Sarah as well, was I then to also get some for the others who were supposed to be joining us. The website had shown the different ticket prices for tourists and locals. It was already costing a chunk of money just traveling here, the visa, transport, food, supporting the group for the duration of the festival - I didn’t really have the cash to pay for entry to the festival as well. I accepted it wasn’t meant to be but Sarah knew people and hadn’t given up hope. Now all I needed to do was add our names to a spreadsheet and we were on the guest list.
The lord works in mysterious ways.
The mood changed.
