Medard is an English teacher at Juru Primary School in Nakivale. He’s been teaching for the last 9 years, but English isn’t the only subject he teaches. Medard doubles as the school’s music teacher and he’s passionate about the benefits of learning music.
“When children are singing, their minds open. Making music helps them excel at all of their other school subjects,” he says.
He has been yearning to have the students of Juru participate in regional music competitions. “When they excel in music, they feel like yes, I can do many things,” he explains. So, Medard and his fellow teachers participated in the World Refugee Day 5k to support their idea of getting more instruments to expand their music program.
Now, Juru Primary has a new collection of instruments – including traditional drums, thumb pianos, ankle rattles and adungus, a stringed instrument. “We use the traditional instruments to teach about our culture and to give a foundation from which students can move on to more complex instruments like the guitar,” says Medard.
“We didn’t have the instruments before to enter in a competition that is coming in two weeks’ time. Now we have them and we are getting ready to make marks there!”
Special thanks to Jennifer Lien, Ellen Hamilton, SweatShop Health Club, Beth Schmieg, John Hoffacker and Bethany Atwell.
