Leadership Through Music

HEAL grew out of Usanii Village Africa‘s previous work with young people, including more than 50 girls and boys whose experiences helped shape the program. Since 2021, Usanii Village Africa has worked to empower young people across Uganda through the arts. In designing HEAL, we wanted to explore how the arts could engage young people in uncomfortable conversations, helping them develop leadership and communication skills while exploring adolescent health and gender equality.

An instructor once told me, “When we listen to our students, we remember why we’re here. Their perspective makes us better.” That was the moment I realized our learning experiences aren’t a one-way street. In programs that truly value our voices, the impact extends far beyond the classroom. It reaches families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.

En este tipo de actos, es fácil pensar que la palabra "comunidad" se refiere a las personas que hay en la sala. Pero el ingenioso truco de El Sistema USA fue invertir esa idea. En lugar de celebrar nuestra En lugar de celebrar nuestra comunidad profesional -los vínculos que establecemos con nuestros colegas-, el equipo directivo de ESUSA exploró los lazos que nos unen a comunidades más amplias y diversas: de familias, de activistas, de científicos, de legisladores y de la gente a la que los legisladores tienden a ignorar.