Music teacher, Salam Music Program, Uganda
Victor is a musician and teacher from northern Uganda who lives in the Bidibidi refugee settlement and serves as a music teacher at the Salam Music Program. He has been teaching maths and science in the area after graduating from the Univesity of Kyambogo in 2015. Victor joined the Salam music program team and has demonstrated outstanding capacities to transmit music (and much more) to the children of Bidibidi.
Here is how Victor speaks about the importance and power of music for the youth:
"Music develops cognitive, affection and motricity in children making it easy for kids to develop intra and interpersonal skills for communication, self-esteem, assertiveness, values and intelligence.
Music plays an important role for the youth in my community.
Music is the main tool that fosters unity by social interaction through events, concerts, and learning sessions.
We are using Music as a therapy to build resilience for emotional stress and trauma in my community in Bidibidi refugee settlement which is inhabited by South Sudanese refugees who fled the 2016 Civil war.
Music for my community is a great tool for talent and skills development in the creative industry.
Learning music helps the youth to develop their careers in music to become professional musicians, teachers and artists which can help improve their livelihood and lifestyle.
Learning music helps my community gain exposure and make friends worldwide through collaborations and tours."