After interviewing a number of youth who access the centre and asking why attendance at the centre was decreasing, the majority of them said they wanted music to be part of the recreational facility. Hence Africa Directions saw the need of purchasing some musical equipment so as to motivate an increase in the number of youth accessing the centre. It is with this background that Africa Directions sourced funds from NYC Student Initiative for AIDS, Inc. at an initial amount of K10,547,385. (US$ 2,239.36) to purchase the musical equipment, which has since inspired an increase in the number of youth accessing the centre.

Africa Directions has since become the owner of the equipment. The equipment is also being used to attract more girls to come to the youth centre by introducing activities for the girls such as modeling, miming and talent shows. The purchase of the musical equipment has motivated youth to come up with a music group, which is doing an HIV/AIDS awareness compilation album, with one of the countries leading music labels.

Since the purchase of the music system:

i.         The number of visitors to the Bauze Youth Centre is back at 250 on average per day as compared to the 150 who were previously visiting.  

ii.        The youth at the centre have started listening to our informative radio programmes every Sunday and have continued to learn from it.

iii.       At least one event has been planned for the 25th May to be held for the youth at the Bauze Youth Centre, this will be a talent show and modeling for the girls.

iv.       Four drama performances so far have been held at the Bauze Youth Centre using the music system.

v.        The system has become so popular among the local community and it has already been hired for one community wedding as a sustainability measure for the youth centre.

Africa Directions Programmes Officers conducted a random interview with a number of youth regarding the newly acquired public address system. The interviewed youth had the following to say:

Kelvin Mwale (Male 17 years)  “The new PA system is very good because it is attracting some of us who like to listen to music because we are able to learn, play games and be entertained musically when we come to the centre.  The system is also attracting young people that usually go into bars and other public places for music.”

Precious Lubasi (Female Model 16 years) “The new machine is helping me to display my talent to other youth and also stops me from going out because I now feel that the centre has every thing that a youth like me needs and if I happen to be crowned as this year’s Miss Teen, I will use the PA system to reach out to other young girls and teach them about HIV/AIDS by combining education and entertainment.”

Gladys Kafwanka (Female 19 years) “ I feel the machine was bought for various functions but it is important that [Africa Directions] start organizing different educational functions and other youth activities frequently to attract young girls and boys who are going in bars for music, beer and sex.”

Mateo Lumbwe (Male Musician 15 years) “ I thank God that a good Samaritan bought this machine because I, as a musician  didn’t have any where to rehearse my songs and to expose my music. Although this system has been at the centre just for a few weeks, I think I have benefited and I will benefit a lot because I’m able to market myself and other musicians locally.”

The interviews were done among a number of youth who gave different views but most of them expressed the importance of the machine especially in our community where not all the households have entertainment systems.

The youth have expressed positive sentiments about the PA system. They are hopeful that it will be taken care of because there is no other place that is youth friendly in the community where they can go for both entertainment and education.  Since the purchase of the music system, the youth who had abandoned the centre in preference for newly opened bars, have found their way back to the centre.