A chorus of voices echoed through the Umoja Empowerment Group building, and a crowd of 11 kids stood singing and dancing and fine-tuning their skills.
They’re getting ready for a big performance.
Shepparton’s Umoja Empowerment Group has been running their English Through Music program for the past six months.
Targeted at primary school children, the program helps kids build confidence in their speaking and literacy skills through music and performance.
To achieve this, the kids have been working on their acting, podcasting, and music-making.
Umoja founder Furaha Baguma said she was proud of how far the kids had come throughout the program.
“I am so happy and proud of these kids because they were learning fairly quickly, and they were so engaged and happy to participate in this program... we also had very positive feedback from the parents,” Mrs Baguma said.
“When we started (the program), we did a survey to evaluate the kid’s levels, and since they’ve been coming here, you can tell there’s a very big difference, and they have improved a lot by attending this program.”
Already having performed twice last year, once at the Carols by Candlelight in Shepparton and another at the Mooroopna New Year’s Eve event, the kids are gearing up for their biggest performance yet.
This Saturday, they’ll perform at St Luke’s African House, bringing together everything they’ve learnt into one big night.
There’ll be drama performances and musical pieces, with students even performing songs they’ve written themselves.
It will also be their final performance.
English Through Music was funded by the Victorian Government’s Empowering Communities grants as facilitated by Greater Shepparton City Council.
Although the program is ending, Mrs Baguma said it’s not the end of their youth programs.
“We are not stopping our youth services; we will have more things coming for them,” she said.
“We are really thankful to the Department of Justice for providing this opportunity to us, and it’s helping us help our community because when you’re educating children, it’s educating the community.
“Tomorrow, they will show what they’ve learnt, and it will be something very good to other kids or other people in the future.”
One of the students participating in the program is 12-year-old Dorcas Mabanza.
She’s been with the program from the start and loved every minute.
“I’m enjoying learning new things and how to sing more,” Dorcas said.
“I’m singing, and as a character, I’m playing the grandma in Little Red Riding Hood.
“I just love being here.”
Umoja invites the community to come along this Saturday night to attend their final performance and enjoy some African cuisine, which will be provided on the night.
Event details
Saturday, February 3
6pm to 9.30pm
St Paul’s African House, 54 Poplar Ave, Shepparton