With support from TotalEnergies EP Uganda, the Cross-Cultural Foundation (CCFU) will extend the Heritage Education Programme to 26 new schools in Buliisa and Nwoya districts this year.
The Foundation held inception meetings with headteachers of the proposed schools from the 15th to the 16th of January 2024 to introduce the programme.
The Heritage Education Programme is a cornerstone of the Foundation’s efforts to reinforce young people’s appreciation of their heritage while leveraging their enthusiasm, creativity, and energy to safeguard and promote it.
This is done through the establishment of heritage clubs in schools. Overall, CCFU in partnership with community museums manages about 200 heritage clubs.
In the clubs, young people are engaged in several activities, including heritage education sessions using a toolkit; music dance and drama where competitions are supported, collection of artefacts, arts and crafts; pottery and moulding, among others.
The programme extension follows CCFU and Total’s activities in the Albertine region last year, during which 30 clubs (20 in Buliisa and 10 in Nwoya) were established.
About 60 teachers and other resource persons were also trained to manage the clubs and deliver heritage education sessions to the young people.
Establishing new clubs will increase the number to 56 in the region, with over 100 teachers and resource persons trained.
Additionally, the number of young people reached will increase to over 20,000 from over 10,000 last year.
While speaking at the meeting, Mr. James Mugisa, the Buliisa district Inspector of Schools appreciated CCFU and Total’s efforts to engage young people in heritage promotion noting that “Bugungu culture is endangered and this programme is helping us to strengthen our efforts to preserve and promote it.”
Mr. Phillip Oryema, the District Education Officer for Nwoya noted that activities of the programme will increase retention and enrollment in school because children love fun and activities such as music and dance are in that category.
Simon Musasizi, the Heritage Trust Programme Manager at CCFU, said that engaging young people in heritage education is significant while safeguarding culture for posterity, and it is the reason why CCFU started the programme 13 years ago.
This year, several activities will be implemented including heritage education sessions using a toolkit (a toolkit for primary schools will be produced); music dance and drama competitions will be supported; about 50 teachers will be trained to manage the clubs; a children’s storybook for Bagungu will be published.
Highlights from the programme in 2024
In 2024, over 10,000 young people were registered and engaged in different activities including music dance and drama (district-level competitions were supported), art and craft, and heritage education sessions with their teachers to enhance their appreciation of their heritage.
As a result of the activities, young people gained and practised artistic skills, built their talents and other life skills such as confidence, leadership and teamwork.
Young people in heritage clubs at Bugungu Secondary School in Buliisa district and Anaka Primary School embarked on artefact collections to start mini museums in their schools.
The programme also inspired parents, cultural leaders and the community at large to donate artefacts and train young people in skills such as music and dance, and making granaries, painting, among others. Watch this film to learn more.
