Architects of Music eV
An intercultural music and social project from Dresden / Germany and Kampala / Uganda
Music & Dance School | Vocational Training | Scholarships | Housing Project | Performance Group
What we do:
We support children and young people from the streets and villages of Uganda by giving them a safe space to grow, express themselves, and be part of a supportive learning and artistic environment – both as individuals and as performing artists, accompanying them on their journey toward an independent life shaped by creativity, dignity, and self-expression.
Our unique approach lies in blending traditional African instruments and dances with elements of classical European music – creating a cultural bridge that is both vibrant and inspiring.
Musical education, schooling, housing, food, clothing, learning materials, personal guidance – the needs are as diverse and individual as the young “Architects” themselves.
Only with your support can we meet these needs and help each child unfold their full potential.
Learn how you can make a difference – RIGHT HERE!.
What keeps us going
Among the children who take part in our project, we encounter extraordinary talent, contagious joy, deep motivation, and a genuine drive to work toward their goals – every single day.
It’s inspiring and uplifting to witness how much energy, creativity, and joy can emerge from working and growing together.
This energy is what keeps our small organization alive. It’s what gives us the strength to carry on – even when the next year, the next month, or sometimes even the next week feels financially out of reach.
So many times, it has been a single small
DONATION at the last minute that has made all the difference – allowing us to keep going, just when we did not know how to.
Access to education is not a given in Uganda. School fees are high, and many children are forced to work hard from a very young age just trying to afford basic schooling.
Through our scholarship program, we support talented young people with school fees, housing, and daily meals – so they don’t have to choose between academic education and artistic development.
Our scholarship initiative is the major cornerstone of our work. We are experiencing it to be the most direct and targeted way to support and make a lasting, personal difference in a child’s life.
Find out more HERE.
We believe that learning must go both ways: From one another - with one another.
That’s why we organize concerts and workshops in Germany for school children – featuring the Performing Artists from Uganda.
Especially in regions where personal encounters with people from other cultures are rare,
prejudices often grow unchecked.
That’s why we make it a point to bring young people together – to sing, dance and enjoy the experience of music together, side by side.
Because nothing
challenges stereotypes more effectively than a shared beat, a laugh, or the simple realization of our common human connections.
For many children and young people in Uganda, everyday life already means hard work, responsibility, and pressure – often from a very young age.
We aim to create shared spaces for joy, creativity, and personal expression – and to work together with young people to develop new perspectives: to help them grow, discover their potential, and ultimately become agents of positive change in their communities.
Our work is
entirely voluntary and funded through donations.
Thank you for finding your way here. We let our project speak for itself – and we hope it inspires you to become part of it.
Even the smallest contribution helps – directly and without detours.
Challenges to face
The past few years have put Architects of Music to the test.
First came the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought our most important sources of income – live performances in Uganda and benefit events in Germany – to a complete standstill for an extended period.
The loss of these activities placed a heavy burden on our young organization and its effects are still being felt today.
In the midst of this crisis, we were forced to make a life-changing decision: either purchase the land where our base is located – or lose it.
Losing it would have meant far more than just giving up a location. It would have meant losing the heart of our work in Uganda – the center of our daily life, and above all: the home of the children in our housing program.
Thanks to numerous private loans and donations, we were able to secure the land – and with it, the future of Architects of Music.
But this investment continues to place a significant strain on our finances.
Today, Architects of Music is facing a new set of challenges.
Prices for food, transport, and everyday necessities in Uganda have been rising rapidly for months. One of the main reasons lies in the global economic impact of the war in Ukraine.
As an import-dependent country, Uganda has been hit hard by disrupted supply chains and increased prices for staple foods, energy, and fertilizers – costs that are passed down directly to the poorest households.
At the same time, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still clearly felt. Uganda experienced the longest school closures in the world. As a result, many children fell behind in their education – or dropped out entirely, returning to life on the streets or to labor in rural areas.
Even today, the public education system remains unstable. Securing school placements, meals, and housing for our students requires continuous and growing effort.
To make matters worse, major international donors – including the United States – are currently withdrawing large portions of their development aid budgets. This affects local support programs directly and leaves small, privately funded initiatives like ours more important than ever – but also more vulnerable to underfunding.
The cost spiral is now turning faster than we, as a small organization, can keep up with.
For many of the families we work with, the rising costs of food and shelter are simply unaffordable. They are forced to return to extremely precarious living conditions – which often means not only losing their home with us, but also their access to education, artistic development, and the possibility of a self-determined future.
We are doing everything we can to prevent that.
We continue to provide daily meals, help cover school fees and accommodation, and connect children with scholarship sponsors – wherever possible.
Because we firmly believe:
Music, education, and community can change lives.
But it takes every single donation to make it happen.
Who we are
Architects of Music was founded by musicians Victoria Romann and Regina Rothe from Dresden, Germany, together with Joseph Ocen, a performing artist from Kampala, Uganda.
What unites us is a shared love for music, a deep commitment to working with children and young people, and a passion for intercultural exchange.
Joseph Ocen oversees the Homebase – our training center in Kampala. He leads the daily rehearsals and is responsible for managing the organization’s affairs on site.
Regina Rothe and Victoria Romann coordinate the work of the organization in Germany. They organize fundraising campaigns and benefit concerts, securing the financial foundation for all our activities.
The Training Team on site:
Joseph, Afan and Kalanzi are all Certified Trainers for African Dance and Drama (Bakayimbira School of Performing Arts). They work with the children and youth every day at the Homebase in Mpererwe, Kampala.
Their role goes far beyond teaching music and dance:
As youth mentors and trusted advisors, they are important sources of guidance and support for our young members – both on and off the stage.
How you can help:
Donations
Every single day we are able to continue our work depends on your support.
Even small contributions can make a big difference in Uganda.
Just one example:
The price of a cappuccino in Germany can cover the daily living costs of an entire family in Uganda.
Your donation helps fund musical and academic education, daily meals, and youth mentoring for our members.
You also support our intercultural exchange projects – creating opportunities for Ugandan children and German students to meet, connect, and break down harmful prejudices through shared experiences.
Instrument donations are also welcome.
We are happy to take care of the entire transport process.
Scholarship Sponsorships
Due to the ongoing economic challenges caused by the pandemic and global conflicts, many of our young members are currently living at the edge of subsistence.
Some of our most talented children risk losing their access to education and their chance of building a financially independent future as professional musicians – simply because of poverty.
Our goal is to connect these children with sponsors who can provide scholarships – covering school fees, meals, and housing – and thereby help preserve their future prospects and ensure equal opportunities.
As a sponsor, you fund a scholarship for a specific child over a two-year period:
- €280 per year for Primary School
- €350 per year for Secondary School
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please do not hesitate to contact us with any of your questions.
Get involved
As a member of our organization, you can actively support our work.
There are many ways to contribute – and just as many areas where your energy is needed.
Your commitment, ideas, network, creativity, and expertise can help us turn a good cause into something even greater.
If you’re interested in joining our team, we’d love to hear from you.
Internships and Volunteering
Are you interested in an internship?
We offer a variety of internships and volunteer opportunities for students and graduates from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds – either remotely or on site at our Homebase in Kampala, Uganda.
Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more.
Did you know…?
…that Lake Victoria, with a surface area of nearly 70,000 km², is the largest lake in Africa?
…that over 40% of Uganda’s population lives below the international poverty line?
…that more than half of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas are protected in Uganda’s national parks?
…that more than one third of Uganda’s population suffers from malnutrition?
…that, alongside English and Swahili, over 40 additional languages are spoken in Uganda?
…that Uganda’s average age is just 15.5 years – compared to 43.7 years in Germany?
…that Uganda’s highest mountain, Mount Stanley (5,109 m), is taller than any peak in the Alps?
…that due to high costs, household responsibilities, child labor, and early pregnancies, less than one third of all children in Uganda complete primary school?
…that the equator runs through Uganda – and you can cross from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere on foot?
…that only about half of Uganda’s population has access to clean drinking water?
…that Uganda is home to over 1,000 bird species – including the rare shoebill stork, often called a “living fossil”?
…that one in four people in Uganda lives without access to electricity?
…that Uganda is often called the “Pearl of Africa” – a term made famous by Winston Churchill?
…that many teachers in Uganda live below the poverty line themselves and often have to teach classes of up to 100 students?
…that the source of the Nile is located in Jinja, Uganda – the symbolic starting point of the world’s longest river?
…that average healthcare spending per capita in Uganda is less than €25 per year?
…that Uganda’s dances and musical instruments have centuries-old traditions, varying strongly between regions?
…that one in three Ugandan families relies on child labor – often at the expense of education and childhood?
…that for just €10 (around 40,000 Ugandan shillings), our training group at the "Base" can be provided with a full lunch?
