What is Dreamtown doing in Mbare

DREAMTOWN is a Copenhagen based NGO that works for the wellbeing of young people in cities. This is done by focusing on the development of safe, inclusive, and creative public spaces in vulnerable communities. Through research, action and stories, we work on strengthening young people’s capacity as active citizens. Dreamtown’s work spans across Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Uganda, and is based on three strategic programmes, SAFE, GREEN and CREATIVE public spaces. HOUSE OF ARTS is a Zimbabwean, youth led organisation that focuses on promoting artistic activities and at the same time using art as a tool for development. Their work is echoed in their motto Reshaping communities through arts. The core team managing the activities of HAA is comprised of a dedicated team of young artists and activists. Coming from the vulnerable communities of Harare, they carry a great deal of legitimacy amongst vulnerable young people living within the poorest areas in Harare.

THE PARTNERSHIP between Dreamtown and House of Arts Association (HAA) formally started in the summer of 2019. Through the support of CISU and Roskilde Festival, we have, for the past nine months, been piloting different artistic approaches towards mobilising young people to become active citizens. The results and feedback from this initial exploratory phase have been overwhelmingly positive A large network of artists working for social change has been developed; important cultural institutions are approaching us to build partnerships; young people from slums are eagerly engaged in our activities; and a productive collaboration with government authorities has been established. With the pilot projects coming to an end in June 2020, we are now planning how best to build on the momentum we have created for improving the wellbeing of young people in urban slums in Zimbabwe. In so doing, this intervention - KEY TO THE CITY - will start in July 2020, at the same time as our current projects end.

SAFE CITIES

KEY TO THE CITY is the name of the art-based movement working for the safety and participation of young people in slums. The name is a slogan that has grown out of the work that we are currently doing in Zimbabwe. The name indicates that art plays an important role in creating development (‘unlocking’ development potentials through art), and that young people know what the key development priorities are for their city.

M U S I C V I D E O M A D E B Y T H E H O U S E O F A R T S A S S O C I A T I O N “ T I M E I S N O W ! ”