Uganda: MIC GUM, a Talent Development Platform
We are here to change the status quo in our community by first understanding what prevents our people from sharing their talent, then helping them leverage opportunities and support their journey until they can stand on their own.
Project description
Mic Gum is an Acoli phrase which loosely translates to "gift is a blessing.”
Individuals are gifted differently. Some can draw, play a game, some are great orators, while others are great singers, and the list goes on. What do we do with our gifts? Do we even know that we have them?
Mic Gum is a talent development platform that embraces and supports all who are struggling within their gifts and those who have no idea they are gifted. This project is currently running in Gulu City, Uganda with a dream of expanding its boundaries. Gulu has so many talented people, youth and adults alike, yet these talents are sat upon, discouraged and many do not realize they have them as there is no platform to help in the identification. The school system does not value extra-curricular activities even when they appear in the education calendar. They are viewed as time wasters and anyone who pursues them is labeled an academic failure. Our people are trained to look at classroom education as the only key to success. Those who have managed to identify their talents lack mentorship and for many, their gifts just die a natural death or sit untapped. To the few who have ventured deeper into their talents and stepped out into the public, they lack the platform to nurture or even leverage their gifts. There are so many mental models that discourage our people from expressing their talents.
We are here to change that status quo in our community by first understanding in depth what prevents our people from sharing their talent, then helping them leverage opportunities and supporting their journey until they may stand on their own.
Project outcome
Seeking students interested in helping to build the Mic Gum platform. Possible areas for engagement include, but are not limited to:
- Web development
- Branding and marketing
- Social media presence
- Connecting individuals and groups with US-based mentors and resources
- Sourcing out local and international opportunities like events, competitions and applying for it on behalf of the artists
- Fundraising for music production and marketing
- Link Mic Gum to studios that can offer a free service to mix and master audios shared
- Host bi-monthly artist discussion
Project details
| Length of commitment | About a semester (3-5 months) |
| Start time | Anytime |
| Level of collaboration | Other: individuals and groups welcome |
| Benefits | Varied |
| Who is eligible | All undergraduate students |
Core partners
- Joanita Ayenyo
- Human Rights and Health advocate
- YALI mentor
- Gulu, Uganda
Project mentor
Mara Huber
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research and Experiential Learning; Director, Experiential Learning Network
Start the project
To apply for one of the limited spaces, send an interest email to ubeln@buffalo.edu with the following information and one of our staff will respond with more information via email :
- Share relevant background information about yourself and why you are interested in a global project.
- Review the list of current global partnerships, list the three you are most interested in working with and explain why for each.
- Explain what you hope to contribute to and gain from a global project.
Note that global partners rely on the contributions associated with ELN student projects and commit their limited time and resources to working with students. Accordingly, different projects will require varying amounts of time and strong commitment and follow through.
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
- Examine the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the history of the framework. Then select one SDG to focus on as you work through your project.
- Download and complete this PowerPoint template.
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.