Faces Up works in Uganda, an African country with the second world’s youngest population — half of its 46 million people are under 15 years old. Sadly, 22.7% of children experience serious emotional distress (UNICEF 2021), and Uganda ranks among the top six countries in Africa with high rates of depression. Many children live in extreme poverty, face violence at home, or are refugees. These difficult experiences affect their emotional well-being and hold them back from reaching their full potential.
Since 2016, Faces Up has used arts education as a way to support the emotional and social growth of young people from the most challenged backgrounds. Our goal is to empower all young people in Uganda to build strong emotional, social, and learning skills — so they can do well in school and life.
At our community art center (Theatre of Dreams) based in Masanafu, Bukulugi, we open doors for young people at the margins to access life transforming opportunities. In return, foster a safe, reflective space where participants engage in deep check-ins, visualization exercises, and mentorship that nurtures both personal resilience, peer-learning and connection, and professional ambition.
By empowering teachers and educators to integrate arts education both in and beyond the classroom, we equip young people with the skills, creativity, and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive. This approach enables us to reach last-mile schools and underserved communities across Uganda, ensuring that every young person has access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities that unlock their full potential.
Over the years, we've seen firsthand how arts education can profoundly transform young lives. We're dedicated to working with key partners to incorporate our approach, fostering collaboration, learning from others, and growing together to amplify our shared impact. Our mission is simple: to provide every young person with the chance to experience the life-changing power of artistic expression, unlocking their potential and paving the way for a brighter future.
Creative expression supports cognitive and fine motor skills development, which is essential for the healthy development among children and young people.
Engaging in arts and crafts within a safe and supportive environment helps young people to process their stress and heal from traumatic life experiences.
The beauty of art is that it has no boundaries or barriers; it’s a universal language that excites and liberates children and young people. Art creation brings joy to artists as well as viewers.
Which of your priority areas aligns with ours? We love to hear from you and explore if there is an opportunity to collaborate.
Which aspect of our priorities would you like to learn more about? We'd be happy to share more details with you.
Is providing access to quality education for children from vulnerable backgrounds one of your life’s wishes? Here’s an opportunity for you to purchase merchandise or artworks and, in return, help invest in the education of children in Uganda.
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