OUR 2023-2028 STRATEGY
BRASS FOR AFRICA’S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER THOUSANDS OF MARGINALISED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN AFRICA TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. COMBINING RIGOUR AND CREATIVITY, WE AIM TO BE A WORLD LEADER IN DRIVING SOCIAL IMPACT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH MUSIC.
Music is a powerful tool to engage and transform. Our 2023-2028 Strategy guides the entire organisation as we expand our work across 5 Focus Areas: Gender Equality, Disability Inclusion, Community Empowerment, Workforce Readiness and Fulfilment of Music Potential.
OUR PROGRAMMES
Brass for Africa operates in three countries: Uganda, Liberia and Rwanda.
We work in partnership with community-based organisations, and our local team of teachers are all African and alumni of our programmes.
Kalangala District – Mwena, Lutoboka, Kalangala Pentescostal Church & Bumanji Primary School
Uganda
Tackling HIV/AIDS through Music & Life-Skills education
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Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre
Uganda
A music programme in Uganda’s only youth rehabilitation centre
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Tender Talents Magnet School
Uganda
Tackling HIV/AIDS through Music & Life-Skills education
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St. John Leonard’s School
Uganda
Addressing the gap between poverty and education in Mpigi
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HOW WE WORK
Working with over 1500 disadvantaged children and young people twice a week, we deliver Music & Life-Skills lessons and regular performance opportunities in partnership with over 20 organisations. Our Music & Life-Skills teachers are all alumni of our programmes and, being from the same backgrounds as our participants, they are uniquely qualified to understand the difficulties they face. All our local staff receive a monthly salary with private healthcare, as well as personal and professional development support.
MUSIC EDUCATION
The programmes consist of twice-weekly sessions delivered at each location, regular performance opportunities and exchange days where we bring two or more of our musical communities together. The curriculum is composed of brass band training, music theory lessons and local memory tune learning along with integrated life-skills.
LIFE-SKILLS THROUGH MUSIC
We have created a ground-breaking and innovative curriculum whereby we integrate life-skills into each music lesson. We select an attribute each month, and – through the music – train our participants to approach these as transferable skills, which they can call upon to help them with difficult situations and challenges they may face.
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TEACHER TRAINING
The employment of ex-students and young leaders from its programmes to teach new cohorts is key to the sustainability of our model. Our teaching training programme has currently provided employment opportunities to 24 young teachers, all of who are paid a salary and have access to 1:1 musical training sessions alongside professional and personal development workshops every month, including topics such as leadership, teamwork and budgeting.
INSTRUMENT REPAIR WORKSHOP
We have our own instrument repair workshop where training is provided in instrument repair to local young people, equipping them with the technical skills to maintain the instruments used on the charity’s programmes. Technicians trained in these workshops have come through our programmes themselves, and now also provide repair services to several external customers including the Ugandan Military Band.
HOW WE WORK
Working with over 1500 disadvantaged children and young people twice a week, we deliver Music & Life-Skills lessons and regular performance opportunities in partnership with over 20 organisations. Our teachers are all alumni of our programmes and, being from the same backgrounds as our participants, they are uniquely qualified to understand the difficulties they face. All our local staff receive a monthly salary with private healthcare, as well as personal and professional development support.
MUSIC EDUCATION
The programmes consists of twice-weekly sessions delivered at each location, regular performance opportunities and exchange days where we bring two or more of our musical communities together. The curriculum is composed of brass band training, music theory lessons and local memory tune learning along with integrated life-skills.
LIFE-SKILLS THROUGH MUSIC
We have created a ground-breaking and innovative curriculum whereby we integrate life-skills into each music lesson. We select an attribute each month, and – through the music – train our participants to approach these as transferable skills, which they can call upon to help them with difficult situations and challenges they may face.
READ MORE
TEACHER TRAINING
The employment of ex-students and young leaders from its programmes to teach new cohorts is key to the sustainability of our model. Our teaching training programme has currently provided employment opportunities to 18 young teachers, all of who are paid a salary and have access to 1:1 musical training sessions alongside professional and personal development workshops every month, including topics such as leadership, teamwork and budgeting.
INSTRUMENT REPAIR WORKSHOP
We have our own instrument repair workshop where training is provided in instrument repair to local young people, equipping them with the technical skills to maintain the instruments used on the charity’s programmes. Technicians trained in these workshops have come through our programmes themselves, and now also provide repair services to several external customers including the Ugandan Military Band.