HISTORY
This is a project dedicated to enhancing the lives of the children of Accra's Arts Centre in the heart of Ghana's capital. The Arts Centre is a large community of shops, workshops and homes. While the collection of talent, creativity and relentless perseverance is abundant and awe-inspiring, the resources are scarce and the living conditions are severely substandard. By teaching children drum-making, drumming and dancing, they learn valuable skills that can provide for them in their futures while they develop a strong sense of cultural pride and heritage. The youth also develop a sense of caring and responsibility for each other along with the confidence that comes from self-expression. Michael Kweku Owusu is the project's founder and director. He grew up in the Arts Centre and knows first-hand how cultural awareness and skill-building save lives.
On July 7, 2004, Kweku was working with his mentor at the Art Center when he came to the conclusion he wanted to support the youth of his community. For the next three years, he secured funding to build the physical structure of the workshop studio by making and selling drums locally and abroad and by performing throughout Ghana. His enthusiasm grew as the actual workshop space took shape. In November of 2007, he had the opportunity to travel with a cultural arts group to the US for a month performing in South Carolina and providing workshops in New York. This experience along with the workshop space provided him with the impetus to launch the Drumming Up From Poverty (DUFP) project.
Since the end of 2007, DUFP has been an active drumming arts program that has offered a place where youth can learn drum-making, drumming and dancing. When the project began, approximately 25 youth ages 9 through 18 participated in the program which was operating 7 days a week. Most of the youth came after school several days each week, but those children who were not able to attend school for various reasons participated in the program during the day as well. Since its inception, over 45 youth have acquired skill-training and associated cultural awareness.
This is a project dedicated to enhancing the lives of the children of Accra's Arts Centre in the heart of Ghana's capital. The Arts Centre is a large community of shops, workshops and homes. While the collection of talent, creativity and relentless perseverance is abundant and awe-inspiring, the resources are scarce and the living conditions are severely substandard. By teaching children drum-making, drumming and dancing, they learn valuable skills that can provide for them in their futures while they develop a strong sense of cultural pride and heritage. The youth also develop a sense of caring and responsibility for each other along with the confidence that comes from self-expression. Michael Kweku Owusu is the project's founder and director. He grew up in the Arts Centre and knows first-hand how cultural awareness and skill-building save lives.
On July 7, 2004, Kweku was working with his mentor at the Art Center when he came to the conclusion he wanted to support the youth of his community. For the next three years, he secured funding to build the physical structure of the workshop studio by making and selling drums locally and abroad and by performing throughout Ghana. His enthusiasm grew as the actual workshop space took shape. In November of 2007, he had the opportunity to travel with a cultural arts group to the US for a month performing in South Carolina and providing workshops in New York. This experience along with the workshop space provided him with the impetus to launch the Drumming Up From Poverty (DUFP) project.
Since the end of 2007, DUFP has been an active drumming arts program that has offered a place where youth can learn drum-making, drumming and dancing. When the project began, approximately 25 youth ages 9 through 18 participated in the program which was operating 7 days a week. Most of the youth came after school several days each week, but those children who were not able to attend school for various reasons participated in the program during the day as well. Since its inception, over 45 youth have acquired skill-training and associated cultural awareness.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Website: www.dufpproject.weebly.com |
CONNECT
P O BOX AC 597,ACCRA GHANA |