covid-19 Youth voices - Re!gnite Africa, Uganda
Re!gnite Africa’s Covid-19 Youth Voices project seeks to monitor, analyze and document in real-time stories and experiences of youth artists and activists dealing with the impact of COVID-19 government guidelines and measures to their livelihood and wellbeing. With support from the Centre for Applied Human Rights of the University of York, Re!gnite will create a platform that features artwork from youth activists and artists aged 18 -30 in the form of poems, drawings, articles and/stories, and songs on its online media platforms. Additionally, examples from the government’s guidelines and measures against the coronavirus will be developed as case studies and used as learning tools for youth focused on transparency and accountability as a basis for basic rights to social security and worker’s rights and welfare.
artwork
Videos
A collection of 50 inspiring songs, poems, stories and artwork were chosen to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on youth in Uganda - find them all here.
Case Studies
Re!gnite Africa has compiled case studies on how some Covid-19 related Presidential Orders affected the livelihood and wellbeing of young people in Uganda.
case 6: reflections on government’s order to suspend all forms of religious gatherings in uganda
In mid-September, the government of Uganda lifted the suspension on all forms of religious gathering. It had been six months since congregants had gathered for worship and praise of God.
This case study considers the impact of the ban on transportation on on youth’s sexual and reproductive, and mental health, and on maternal and newborn health and asks that in future the government of Uganda take into account the needs and desires of young people.
CASE 3: HOW DID SUSPENSION OF ACTIVITIES IN CITY CENTER ARCADES AND SHOPPING CENTERS IMPACT LIVELIHOOD?
Thousands of jobs, many in the informal sector, were lost when the government suspended the operation of shopping arcades, hardware shops, and malls because they gather a lot of people to sell and buy non-food items. In this case study Ssozi Arthur Grace recounts how the suspension completely changed his life.
CASE 2: THE BAN ON ACTIVITIES BY ARTISTS AND CREATIVES AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE
Millions of Ugandans became unemployed as a result of a ban that put an end to all forms of art-related public gatherings (shows and theatres) in the visual and performing arts sectors.
This case reflects on the impact of the ban on a young poet’s life and wellbeing.
CASE 1: COVID-19 AND THE BAN ON PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION
Uganda’s response to the pandemic has come at a huge cost to the social-economic wellbeing of the most vulnerable in society. Groups such as unemployed young adults – who were already in an economically vulnerable situation pre-Covid-19 – are currently struggling to survive.
In this case study we hear from Joyce Namugambe, a journalist and writer, was cut off from her workplace because of the particular ban on public passenger transportation.
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Re!gnite Africa is a development and advocacy organization tackling unemployment among young adults in Uganda using a practice, advocacy, and learning approach.