Vibrant Ugandan Art in Melksham at ArtHouse Cafe

THIS month’s display in the Rotary Club ArtHouse Cafe is dominated by a vibrant display of Ugandan art which was brought back from Africa by Rachel Brown, a 21-year-old woman from Melksham.

This is Rachel’s story: “I went out to Jinja in Uganda for one year with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). I served the community there, helping with a rehab programme for prostitutes, helping local girls learn life skills and going to the local hospital to pray and encourage patients.

“I met Mandy on a Discipleship Training School which I did in the first five months of being in Jinja. I got to know him and became part of his family. His brother, Kizza, runs an orphanage called “Let the Children” for unwanted children from prostitutes and others in his village, Mbikko. He currently has 14 children living with him but helps about 40 more in the village. Some of the money raised by the paintings goes towards this orphanage.

“All the money from the paintings goes straight back to Jinja. We transfer the money to Mandy and he distributes it between the three of them, Let the Children and a development programme they are starting which helps give locals skills to make money. The money will go towards school fees, medical bills, food and general things like transport. This is the main source of income for them, so they are thankful for any donation made to them. Our money goes a lot further over there.

“The paintings are done by a group of three in Jinja. The three of them get together to make the paintings, each contributing ideas and different skills.”