IBBY-Yamada 2024: Uganda

IBBY-Yamada 2024: Uganda
Developing Creative Writing Interest and Skills Among Children in Vulnerable Communities

A three-day creative writing and reading workshop implemented by the Ntuha Children Writers and Illustrators Association (IBBY Uganda) in partnership with the Motherly Heart Foundation, empowered children and educators in Zana, a low-income community near Kampala, to explore and develop their creative storytelling abilities. The initiative aimed to inspire a new generation of young authors and foster a reading culture rooted in local voices and lived experiences.

The workshop welcomed 35 children and 15 adults, including teachers, volunteers, and parents. Activities included reading tents, group storytelling, drawing and moulding characters, creative writing sessions, and training on how to craft and illustrate children’s books. Adult participants created their own story drafts, working with illustrators to develop materials ready for publication, while children wrote and illustrated original stories inspired by their surroundings and personal experiences.

These children’s Works, like Dangers of Rubbish, My Visit to the Hospital, and Mother, Mother, were celebrated for their creativity and relevance. At the closing ceremony, the best young writers and illustrators were awarded gifts and a starter library of 429 books was donated to the Motherly Heart Foundation to support its ongoing literacy programme.

The project strengthened collaboration between NCWIA and local educators, expanded NCWIA’s membership, and laid the foundation for future activities, including a reading camp in eastern Uganda and proposals for using local materials in literary-themed crafts. The initiative has sparked long-term interest in writing among children and educators, affirming the power of storytelling to nurture imagination, confidence, and community engagement.