Hajarah is a 22-year-old percussion participant and a young mother at our partner outreach Kawempe Youth Centre. She lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her grandmother.

 

This January she gave birth to a baby boy and thought she would not be able to continue her practice at Brass for Africa. To her surprise Brass for Africa staff encouraged her to never give up.

LET’S HEAR FROM HAJARAH.

I grew up with my grandmother and, after finishing my senior four, I had to be at home because she was not able to pay further school fees.

After a long time of being idle at home, I joined the Brass for Africa program in 2019. Here, I learned to play music and many other things: being confident, how to communicate in public, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and other life-skills that transformed my life. I have also got so many opportunities through Brass for Africa like being part of the Brass for Africa All-Star Band and being a student volunteer where I could go and teach my fellow members in different outreaches.

When I got pregnant, I thought that Brass for Africa was going to leave me out of the program. But to my surprise, they did not. They instead kept on welcoming me and, when I gave birth, they were happy to see my child and encouraged me to not give up.

Having a child did not stop me from playing music. I come to practice with my son, and we enjoy ourselves together.

I take this opportunity to thank the Brass for Africa team for what they have taught me as a girl child, and I thank Kawempe Youth Centre for giving me the opportunity to be part of the programme.

I also thank my bandmates for supporting me whenever I needed help. I promise I will not give up; I will continue doing what I do because I love music. If it was not for my passion for music, I would not have been in the band now.

HAJARAH ALSO SHARED HER DREAM AND MESSAGE TO ALL THE GIRLS WHO THINK THAT GIVING BIRTH IS THE END OF EVERYTHING, AND TO THOSE WHO THINK THAT THEY CANNOT PLAY THE DRUMS.

My dream is to become a Music & Life-Skills teacher at Brass for Africa. I want to be a percussion teacher like teacher Ivan. I really like the way he plays.

To all girls, let us not fear ourselves. Even if you drop out of school or give birth, you can still make it. Believe in yourself. Even if someone tells you that you cannot, tell them you can.

I will give an example of myself. When I said I wanted to play the drums no one believed in me, but I kept believing that I can play them. Right now, I inspire many girls and boys in my community who see me playing, and they want me to teach them. Let’s engage in music because it can change our lives.

Aisha, Brass for Africa, Media Department