Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre

Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre is Uganda’s national juvenile detention centre housing up to 300 vulnerable street children and young people in conflict with the law. Brass for Africa is one of only a handful of organisations permitted to operate within the institution. Brass for Africa delivers an innovative Music & Life-Skills programme twice a week to improve the lives and future prospects of the residents.

Before our project started, there was a strong public stigma against the residents of Kampiringisa. The community did not want to engage with them and was opposed to residents attending the local school. The lack of counselling services within the institution meant these vulnerable young people were left in isolation, resulting in an inability to communicate, express emotions and heal. This negative public perception meant that most were unable to attend school, resulting in the majority of residents not receiving any form of education.

Since 2014 our monitoring and evaluation shows that the programme has been life-changing, resulting in marked positive behavioural change in the participants, and has provided a sense of inclusion within the community. Beneficiaries have felt empowered through our Music & Life-Skills curriculum and demonstrated their knowledge and development throughout the course of the programme. Through regular performances and engagements, there has also been significant improvement in the public perception of the children and young people of Kampiringisa.

Today, three of our ex-students from Kampiringisa Rehabilitation Centre are working full-time for Brass for Africa. Two as Music & Life-Skills teachers and one as Office Assistant.