The Passion of Arts

A arts student, Kelvin Asare-Williams, founded in 2000 the Junior Art Club (JAC) whose goal is to tap the potentials of young slum dwellers. He first distributed sheets of paper and pencils to a number of kids at Nima, a disadvantaged area of Accra. Quickly the youth group, waiting every day that he returns from college, grew bigger. After the landlord of the compound, where Kelvin used to meet the kids, threw him out by fear of disturbance, Kelvin decided to call upon his co-students to start visiting pupils at school after classes and initiate them to arts such as acting, creative writing, drawing, singing, dancing, batik making.

Concerned that not all children were going to school, he wanted to open an office. That was done at Labadi. Currently, nine branches exist in schools and rural communities. The club holds exhibitions of children's works, organises performances such as plays and shows. Partners and volunteers come from different parts of the world. Despite the progress made and the equipment acquired (photo and video cameras, computer), Kelvin is trying to get more support. There is the need to rent a bigger place to welcome a lot more children.

JAC also ambitions to open a multimedia museum that would be the first in Accra. With the income generated by the entrance fees, JAC would be able to stand on its feet and expand its activities for the benefit of an increasing number of young people.