UTSS Grantees have talents

Under the same sun (UTSS), is a Christian, International Non Governmental Organization that works towards improving the well being of persons with albinism. To attain its objectives, UTSS has two departments namely, Education Scholarship Fund, Advocacy and Public awareness. The founder of UTSS is Peter Ash.
This year UTSS decided to organize a summer camp with an aim to expose the children's talents. In so doing it started with a pre-summer camp as a way to prepare for the big event. Pre-summer camp activities did expose some hidden talents of children with albinism and was a great success. Children demonstrated their dance, drama, music, drawing, writing and language skills. Sponsored by the organization's Education Scholarship Fund the pre summer camp took place in Mwanza, Tanzania at Jellys school; the same place that the main summer camp will take place later in July.

Children's Library Launched

Today at the National Museum and House of culture one of the first children's public library was lunched by Her Excellency the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete. The Library contains book and other references material. Not only book but the library also contained computers for children. The official opening was as follows:

Bunge Primary School children waiting for the guest of honor to arrive

Her Excellency the Fist Lady greets the Korean Ambassador

As she arrived Her Excellency the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete was received by the Korean Ambassadors who gave her a warm welcome to the opening. In entering children from Bunge Primary school were all ready to welcome her.

Bunge Children getting ready to perform the national Anthems

After a warm welcome Bunge Primary school children using Steel Band performed the Tanzanian and the Korean national Anthems which were followed by opening speeches.

Maimuna Tarish giving out her speech

The first speech was from Maimuna Tarish, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism who later welcomed the Director of UNWTO ST-EP Foundation and later Her Excellency the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete who had a brief speech and officially launched Launched the children and the adult small library and a conference hall as supported by UNWTO ST-EP Foundation.

The Director; UNWTO ST-EP Director Yang Sheng Dho giving her speech

Her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete giving her speech

Her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete cutting the ribbon

In the picture above her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete Cutting the ribbon as a symbol that the children's Library is officially opened.

From the left Her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete, The UNWTO ST-EP Foundation Director and the WAAO Director

The picture/snap above Her Excellency the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete, The UNWTO ST-EP Foundation Director Yang Sheng Dho and the WAAO Director Theresia Gratta being given directions.

A Bunge Primary School child using the children computers at the children's library

Her Excellency, the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete trying up equipments as the Children's Small Library.

Her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete trying the installed equipment

Children directing each other at the Children's small Library

As explained above the launching included a children's and adults small libraries and a conference hall. WAAO was responsible in making sure the children who attended where comfortable and where responsible in the training to make sure the children could play and sing the Tanzanian and the Korean National Anthems

Children pausing for the Camera

The WAAO Director, teachers and the Bunge Primary School Children

With WAAO children always enjoy and have fun

The 2nd WAAO festival ends with much success

The second and the last day of the festival was today. Children from various school in Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo came and performed various production that made this day a success and with a lot of cheer. After the arrival of the various school teachers and parents they all assembled at the theater hall at the National Museum and House of Culture. The performance where opened with the Tanzanian National Anthem which was performed by a steel band from the children of Selesion sisters of Don Bosco-Mikoroshini. See picture below

Children from Selesion sisters of Don Bosco-Mikoroshini performing 
the Tanzanian National Anthem at the festival

The Steel band from Don Bosco did not perform the song along but everyone stood and and all the children together sang the Tanzanian National Anthem which was later followed by the song Jingle bells.

Children singing the national anthem at the festival

Goodies followed and children had so much to give. Imaan Mulji from International School of Tanganyika (IST) followed by playing her Violin performing a few songs living every kid in the hall woundering how long did it take her to learn playing the Violin that good.

Imaan Mulji from International School of Tanganyika 
playing the Violin at the 2nd WAAO Festival

A child who left all the people in the theater hall surprised and amazed was Afraazadam. This kid can hit the drums. He played the drum set and everyone got off his/her sit and started rejoicing and cheering at the top of their voices

Afraazadam Mulji from International School of Tanganyika
showing his talent as a drummer at the 2nd WAAO festival

After a good performance from Afraazadam there followed a choreographed dance performed by the children from Mtoto Mchoraji Art Center from Bagamoyo. The dance was great and the children were so determined as all the children who performed to give the best performance and it was.

Children from Mtoto Mchoraji Art Center performing a choreographed dance

The Miembeni children lead by Elizabeth took over the stage after the Mtoto Mchoraji Art Center. This children came with a choreographed 'Mganda wa kikutu' dance; a celebration dance from the Luguru ethnic group from Morogoro.

Children from Miembeni starting the dance

The dance mainly or mostly starts with two people on stage then the others follow afterwords. In the picture below other students from Miembeni Primary School joining their colleagues/fellow students in the dance.

Children from Miembeni dancing 'Mganda wa Kikutu' dance

Next on stage were Karate kids from Mabibo Islamic Primary school. These came up with a variety of karate styles and kata as seen below.

Children from Mabibo Islamic showing their Karate techniques

It became even more interesting when even very young children were in the group. All these children are taught karate with the main purpose of self defense. 

Children from TCTC performing Kwaito

The mood was all of a sudden changed and suddenly we were in South Africa having Kwaito on stage. The choreographed dance was performed by the children of TCTC which is an acronym for Tanzania Children and Culture Organization. Then a break were one of the sponsors was allowed to make a point. 

A representative from UTT

The first sponsor to take the stage was UTT which is an acronym for Unit Trust of Tanzania. UTT introduced the account/shares that a parent could start by paying 10,000/=Tshs and keep on donating from time to time as a future plan to pay school fees when the children have grown enough, finished their primary education and ready to go to secondary school. This was followed by a traditional dance from Kulawa Zawose.

Children from Kulawa Zawose entering the stage for their first dance

Children from Kulawa Zawose performing their second dance

The children from Kulawa Zawose from Bagamoyo performed two traditional dances but the second dance was amazing. It left most of the people in the theater hall scream and having something to talk about. They reminded many people on their tradition as per the devotion they showed. They were later followed by another sponsor who gave out a small talk about the sponsorship.

A representative from Masumin and Five star

This sponsor above was from Masumin and Five star. These sponsors deal with stationery. Their generous sponsor included counter book for all the children and students who participated.

Ally Musa (holding a mic) and Jackson Msophe (with the camera) from Mlimani TV

The Media did not stay behind. The electronic media meaning TV's that came included Mlimani TV and Channel 5. At the picture above Ally Musa interviewing Mabibo Islamic Primary Children as Jackson Msophe hold the Camera making sure every important detail is covered. In the theater hall things fired up with the children from KCC kigamboni.

Children from KCC kigamboni dancing in stage

Children from KCC Kigamboni showing off their various dancing styles

The children from KCC Kigamboni performed a shot play and then came around to dance and shake as it is called now a days 'shaking'. The shakers left the stage for another sponsor to briefly speak.

A representative from AZAM

The sponsor from AZAM explained breifly was he had brought the kids. This included AZAM juice which is commonly known as 'Kijoti'.

A child from Shada group doing Acrobatics

The show was heated up by Shada group from Bagamoyo lead by Mwalimu Issa from TASUBA. The children performed nicely prepared Acrobatics which really colored the day and made most audience members astonished and highly amazed. Everyone was so happy and could not believe children could do the staff they did. After Shada a vote of thanks was given by Theresia Gratta (The WAAO Director) and was closed down by a Steel band performance from the Selesion sisters of Don Bosco-Mikoroshini.

The 2nd WAAO Festival starts

Early today the 2nd WAAO Children's Arts and Culture festival kicked off. It took of with a lot of smiles and happiness from the children, their teachers and the few parents that attended. The Festival was opened up with a poem done by Ms. Mariam Ismail (Mama Mipango) from UKUTA.

Mariam Ismail (Mama Mipango) Opening up 2nd WAAO Festival

The poems (Shairi) are composed by Mchamba A. Mchamba from Swahili poets' association UKUTA.

Mariam Ismail (Mama Mipango) reciting a poem in the 2nd WAAO Festival

And with lots of importance the director Theresia Gratta  picked up from there by welcoming the children, parents and all the people who attended.

Theresia Gratta (The WAAO Director) Opening the festivals

Students who came included student from Buguruni School for children who can not hear or see. This kids where a great blessing to the festival. Below are some of the students from Buguruni who came up with various handicrafts productions which where done by them and their fellow students.

Buguruni School for children who can not see or hear at the festival exhibitions

Not only exhibition but the day was decorated with workshops on Music and Mime which all where highly attended by the students and with much interest

Students and their facilitator Didas at the WAAO festival music workshop

Students and their facilitator Edgar at the WAAO festival Mime workshop

After the workshops student took there own time to rehearse so as to have a good performance later in the afternoon. Below students rehearsing.

Students rehearsing the song taught at the WAAO festival workshop

Students rehearsing the mime taught at the WAAO festival

After, the students had a chance to perform what they did in the workshop. It was much interesting as they where all mixed up and working not in school but as one which helped in increasing their interaction. Most of them where happy to interact also with Miriam Thomas

Students lead by Miriam E. Thomas performing their songs trained at the workshop

Students performing a mime after the workshop they attended

This was quite an experience and a new discovery for most of the students as they where meeting the term mime for the first time, but at the end they where able to perform a good play.

The Children and the parents attentively watching the performances

Other students were much attentive to the performances and most of them confirmed of their happiness in the festival. Later in the afternoon there was a daughter and father song. Miriam called her father and did a performance with her father. See the picture below

Miriam E. Thomas and her father performing a song

Miriam E. Thomas is a standard five student from Uhuru mchanganyiko Primary School. Later it was time for presents and gifts giving

One of the sponsors from 'Azam' is giving out presents

Children showing off some of the presents given out by some of the sponsors

Some of the children showing off presents they have received from Five star and Masumin

Some of the children showing off the presents they received from the various sponsors

The festival was postponed this evening to tomorrow where most performances will be showcased. We would like to welcome you all and especially the parents to come round with their children and witness the talents of their lovely children.

Watoto ni taifa la kesho

Children are tomorrow's nation

The 2nd WAAO Children Arts and Culture Festival timetable for Saturday

We hereby post the Saturday 8th December 2012 performance Timetable

Na hii ni ratiba kwa ajili ya Jumamosi ya tarehe 8/12/2012

 

All are welcome

Nyote mnakaribishwa

The 2nd WAAO Children Arts & Culture Festival Timetable

Now that we are only remaining with just one day; that is Thursday 6th December 2012 we would like to welcome you all on to the 2nd WAAO children Arts and Culture Festival that will be held this Friday; the 7th December, 2012 and 8th December 2012. Here under we present to you the 7th December, 2012 timetable.

Chini hapa ni ratiba ya Tamasha la pili la watoto la WAAO litakalofanyika tarehe 7/12/2012 na 8/12/2012 ikiwa ni ratiba ya siku ya ijumaa hii ya tarehe 7/12/2012 kwa kiswahili.

You are all welcome

Nyote mnakaribiswa