#endchildtraffickingug

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Behind the scenes talking solutions #EndChildtraffickingUg first activity here in Pallisa as we utilize creative arts to facilitate conversation on this hot topic. Will be posting this video soon. #ArtMyPlatform #FellowsAtWorkUg

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Happening right now as sent through by our partners on ground in Pallisa. Heading there to join the Van #EndChildtraffickingUg the Arts taking center stage #ArtMyPlatform what is your platform in ensuring transformation? #FellowsAtWorkUg

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The mission continues this week as we head to Palisa with activities lined up over the weekend. #EndChildTraffickingUg

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#EndChildTraffickingUg campaign last weekend in Busia thanks to Jogo Fm we managed to speak to people in Iganga, Busia, Tororo, Mayuge and parts of Bugiri. My highlight among so many was that Jogo Fm was generous to allow myself, campaign team leader Kyabagu John Bosco and one of our local partners Malaba John director Foundation for Christ Ministries For solid 45 minutes without interruption all for free. The callers were so keen to engage us but will focus on one question which I have to say caught me off guard. Why the creative arts, why theater especially? It is quite simple the Arts are broadly used to communicate, store information, entertain, inspire, appreciate, educate, heal among so many purposes that bring value to culture and society. Allow me to expound on the communication and entertainment bit. People need to know what is happening and unfortunately with only one channel which is the news not everyone is keen to listen. Yet here we combine entertainment with the main acts being real locals who understand the community problems and therefore can relate through their actions with awareness.These young people own these stories and practice towards not just entertaining their audience but highlighting why what is overlooked in this case #ChildTrafficking should be stopped. The intimacy of community theater has echoed the real need of capacity building to support authorities and empowered especially our local partners like Madibira Primary school the oldest school in Busia, Center for Christ Ministries whose importance can not be underestimated to which we are grateful. Aspiring actors in the community theater well known as comedians in this area understand a little more how their role is much more important than personal ambition. I guess in summary my answer is the Creative arts are an engagement tool in this mission to #endChildtraffickingug mobilizing locals to dialogue, which leads to understanding critical issues and underlining urgency towards eliminating ChildTrafficking. It is our hope that the locals become real drivers towards creating better economical alternatives instead of looking on as the future disappears before it is ever realized.

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Am still getting over the disturbing stories in Busia over the weekend. In the first session we conducted, one of the participants in attendance lost a child last year and there is still no trace of that young soul. Just imagine being with your child at work where he or she should be safe as you serve your clients and on moving inside to pick something that's all the time the bad guys need. This was clearly brought home in every sense of the word. You hear stories of disappearances and let's face it most times this sounds like miles away because it is not your very own. Using art for almost anything especially to bring awareness & empowering creative leaders in community feels like my journey is only beginning each day. The #EndChildTraffickingUg van has moved to different parts of Uganda bringing this message home to thousands using creative arts specifically theater. Through My colleague Kyabagu John Bosco am partnering with this movement under the Exchange Alumni association. In Busia just like any other porous border point the challenge is how do you control movement of people and goods? The Police is clearly overwhelmed by not just human trafficking, robbery, smugglers to mention but a few. To end child trafficking though, should be treated as a matter of urgency not just one option because imagine a future with more broken people that were once victims. The issue of rehabilitating the survivors is more complex than any thing a nation can deal with. If every day we have a child disappearing with no trace, the real danger is treating it as a way of life and not acting now because a country without security of it's people loses face and it becomes impossible to fit in any economic or prosperous picture in the future.This gentle man that lost a child in what still remains a mystery am sure is extra determined to ensure there is an end to this in an area that is also notorious for child sacrifice, child marriage and Parents sending their children to neighboring Kenya to work as house girls instead of school. There is also the issue of many preferring to use the Busia border as it is easier to fly through Kenya instead of the strict Entebbe Airport.

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We cannot be left behind in this fight to #EndChildTraffickingUg so many lessons learned walking the outskirts of Busia. A place with more brothels per square mile than anywhere in Uganda. Children are targeted and a high rate of child sacrifices. Will be sharing more and may be you too can join the van as we use creative arts to spread the message against this evil act #ArtMyPlatform #FellowsAtWorkUg