Peter Kibanyi, KFUSA Treasurer has started a new project to recognize and publicize artwork created by inmates in U.S. jails and prisons. The project, 1heartart.org was recently profiled in Huffington Post, an online news service.

1HeartArt raises funds for former inmates pursuing art, as well as for students whose parents are serving time in prison. They also offer a penpal program inviting anyone to write a letter and form a connection with an aspiring 1HeartArt artist.

1HeartArt is also sponsoring an art contest with the public as judges of the artwork. To see some of the artwork, check out the Huffington Post article, or go to the 1HeartArt.org website.

Photo, "Jazz" by Darrion Harris. 03 Oct 2014

We held a two-day bead-making and painting workshop for about 75 young people at Kiyita Family Alliance (KIFAD) in Nansana August 23-24. James Nsamba, Farouk Mukwaya and Peter Kalyongo were the teachers. The colorful beads are made from narrow strips cut from pages of discarded magazines. The strips are rolled up, then glued and varnished. Glue can be made from banana skins. The kids also created a large acrylic-on-canvas painting. 24 Aug 2012

Uganda Art Consortium has joined with the Art in Kibera Project to host an exhibition of art by Ugandan and Kenyan children. The Exhibition will be held at Georgetown University in Washington DC in the Inter Cultural Center Galleria Sept. 29th-30th and October 3rd-4th from 9AM to 9 PM.. Georgetown Associate Vice President Charles De Santis and Margaret Halpin, Dean in the School of Foreign Service conduct art classes for children every summer in the Art in Kibera program in Nairobi Kenya. From Uganda, artwork from UAC's free kids art workshops at Sanyuko Ministries will also be on display. The show which is sponsored by the Georgetown African Interests Network, which will hold a reception Sept. 28 to open the exhibition and celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the group. 27 Sep 2011

Bathing, washing clothes and dishes, cooking and drinking for 400 kids plus about 50 staff people uses an enormous amount of water..about 5,000 liters a day. Kisa School depends on the municipal water supply for much of its needs, but the water, like the electric power is sporadic, and the pipes don't always flow. About 5 years ago, we installed a rainwater collection and storage system on the roofs of the main house and part of the main classroom building. This lets us collect and store about 15,000 liters, a three day supply. When we run out, we have to hire men with bicycles to haul water in jerrycans. We could save a lot of money if we could store more rainwater. So we are starting a fund-raising campaign to help us expand our rooftop water system. For $5,000 we can double our capacity and ease our dependence on hauling water. 18 Aug 2011

In another art workshop at Kisa Primary School in April, children created a large oil painting based on the sketches and ideas of over 2 dozen children. We'll bring back the painting on our next rip to Uganda, and plan to display it in the U.S. later this year. 21 Apr 2011