Music and Joy: ADPE Launches Youth Arts Programme at Ruhashya

Music fills the air at the ADPE youth activity centre in Ruhashya Sector, Huye District, where children are now learning to play the keyboard under the guidance of a music instructor.

The programme is part of ADPE’s holistic approach to youth development — recognising that children need arts, play, and creative expression just as much as academic learning. This is especially important for vulnerable youth who have faced barriers to education.

“When a child learns to play a song, something shifts inside them,” says the music facilitator. “They discover patience, discipline, and the joy of creating something beautiful.”

Alongside music, children participate in group dance, storytelling, and outdoor play activities. ADPE’s youth talent detection and motivation programme currently serves children from Ruhashya Sector and surrounding communities.

This programme is part of ADPE’s work with youth who have dropped out of the education system, offering them a path back through creativity, mentorship, and a sense of belonging.