IRIS MISSION AFRICA is a not-for-profit organization whose main aim is to fight poverty, unemployment and other social injustices in our society especially among youths through art, photography and film.
Background Having started in Uganda at a time where hand-outs in form of food, clothes and medication were the order of the day, we realized that much as these rescue measures were a great relief to the effects of the poverty in our society, they were obviously not addressing the problem and were unsustainable.
Given the fact that Uganda’s education system encouraged more job seekers than job creators, the onus was upon us to reject the status quo and do that which would give our people a lasting solution in the fight against poverty.
An initiative of Saltray Lubega, who is an accomplished artist, camera person and Television expert, IRIS MISSION AFRICA runs programs that are tailored to equip especially the youths with skills that enable them to not only get jobs for themselves but also empower others in the fight against poverty and unemployment. Programs carried out in collaboration with local community organizations include Art, Crafts-making, Acting, Photography and Film/Video Production.
Currently, IRIS MISSION AFRICA thru boasts of having achieved various accomplishments including training the crew which started Miracle Center Cathedral’s Channel 44 Television in Uganda, David Kabogoza, one of our trainees filming for Reuters at the Smurfs’ Walk of Fame in Hollywood leave alone directing a short movie at Universal Studios, Ritah Aliguma, the first female Vice president of Uganda’s National Sports Journalists’ Governing body, USPA, several Photographers, Filmmakers and several visual story-tellers.
Recently, Nazario Ethan Lubega, one of our own from the KidsArt programs played a key role in the recently premiered Disney Movie, the Queen of Katwe, acting as Benjamin.
It is from this background that IRIS MISSION AFRICA took a step of painfully renting premises against our meager resources, which will initially act as our Empowerment Centre which will help the organization in better planning, facilitate training and proper execution of all our programs.
With the aim of becoming fully self-sustaining, the Empowerment Centre which is undergoing renovation and modification, when fully complete and stoked with training gear, will be able to train among others Technical Skills like Woodworks, Carpentry & Joinery, Spray-Painting, Metal Works & Sculpture on top of our current programs to cater for a wider spectrum of Creative Visual Professionals.
As of today, IRIS MISSION AFRICA embarked on a drive that will enhance Kids Creativity, help to develop their cognitive skills, offer more opportunities for self-expression and develop their physical skills thru KidsArt, one of our foundational programs.
Given the background of most of the kids in our communities, KidsArt acts as a therapy to them because it caters for POSITIVE EMOTION, ENGAGEMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENT, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS and MEANING which are the five psychological elements of well-being.
We have initiated a drive to get the program running through which we encourage individuals, corporate entities and other well-wishers to partner with us in promoting this cause and make the necessary logistics available to enable us achieve this noble goal.
Visit us at: www.irismission.org