My initial vision for this project was big, loud and all over the place. After attending the Van Gogh immersive art experience in Minneapolis, I thought it would be fun to have something similar in Kampala. As an International development concentrator, I am always eager to implement projects that contribute towards development. One cannot deny the critical role that art plays in social and cultural development. Art has a unique ability to initiate conversations and it is in discourse and discussion that renaissances and revolutions are born. For this reason, I chose to use art as a tool to guide conversations on the pandemic rather than the customary questionnaire.

When it came to conversations about the pandemic, I specifically wanted people to reflect back on who did what during the many lockdowns in Kampala. The pandemic momentarily froze global collaboration as individual governments scrambled to figure out what to do. While the Ugandan government provided relief in many ways, my interest in grassroots organisations made community initiatives stand out to me in a particularly striking way.

I believe Uganda's biggest strength is in its people. Despite the limitations involved in being a developing nation, the enterprising nature of the people has facilitated the growth of a dynamic and beautiful society. The ways that community lead initiatives create pathways towards a good and fulfilling life in cannot be ignored.

In developing nations, International development organisations play a major role in driving development in its different dimensions. While mostly well-meaning, the efforts of this industry so often tend towards saviourism stripping the masses of agency in the process.

Safina Virani From Frauen Ug (@FrauenUg on all social media platforms) gave us perspective on starting and running a non-profit during our closing discussion.