All around the world, millions of children have missed out on learning due to COVID-19. And many are not developing the skills they need to break out of poverty.
We must help students get their education and their futures back on track.
As part of our Youth Mediathon, a group of digital storytellers from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi living in a Refugee Settlement worked with UNICEF Uganda to create a series of videos, and photos for young people.
They aim to raise awareness about the urgency of school reopening, and the need to keep basic protection measures against COVID-19.
Watch their videos here and scroll down to learn more about the young people behind this project.
Young Storytellers
Meet the team
ESTHER BYA’MUGU
"I am an 18-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and an out of school girl. I have a passion to work for and with my fellow children.
I want to be their voice in transmitting their messages on children’s rights through video and photo, that’s why I have a passion to become a camera woman."
ITANGISHAKA SALHA
"I am a 17-year-old Burundian and refugee female living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Isingiro District in Uganda, where I stay with my parents and relatives.
I have a passion for video editing and shooting, and I wish to use this medium to communicate with other people around the world and share my opinion to better the children. I want to become a good digital storyteller."
BAMWESIGYE GODFREY
"I am an 18-year-old Ugandan from Isingiro District. I am passionate about child protection, conflict management and entrepreneurship, and I was trained in photo shooting and video editing through UNICEF and War Child Canada.
I am using these skills to communicate with fellow adolescents around the World."
ASIIMWE VICENT
"I am an 21-year-old Ugandan male from Isingiro District. I am an out of school youth leading one of the out of school adolescent/youth clubs called Voice of Youth as the chairperson, part of War Child Canada and supported by UNICEF.
I am passionate about living together as one people without being called a refugee or not. That is why addressing issues of violence and managing conflicts in my community is important."
LUCIEN RIZIKI
"I am an 19-year-old Congolese refugee living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Known as Castro, I am really passionate about writing stories, inspirational quotes, songs and poetry. I also do photography and videography, both as a hobby and as a source of income.
I am an out of school adolescent who completed my primary level. It was very hard for me to join the secondary school because of life conditions in the settlement, so I decided to join the adolescents club called United Club and created an extended group of adolescents and youths based on talents called RVTelnts.
We produce songs, poems, motivational speeches, stories and film production in order to spread messages in the settlement about the challenges that we face as young people and children."
