Esta brings art and education to Africa (From Gazette Series)

Esta brings art and education to Africa

A STUDENT from Wotton-under-Edge is off to two African countries to help teach health education through arts, dance and music.

Esta Green, who turned 17 this month, is joining Act4Africa, an organisation that uses performing arts to deliver HIV/AIDS education in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. It works with local churches and staff at Mildmay Health Centre near Entebbe, Uganda and tours local schools challenging some of the misconceptions about the virus.

Esta was planning to visit a Kenyan family friend when her father showed her details about the Act4Africa projects.

After taking GCSEs at Castle School, Thornbury, Esta started her current Performing Arts BTEC course at Cirencester College. Other young people, aged 16 and over, travelled with her to Manchester for training and orientation.

Esta is off to Kenya for a week followed by two weeks performing in Kasese, Uganda. Kasese is a town where, in common with the rest of the country, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is rife amongst the local community.

Here, local churchman Peter Masekera is committed to turning the tide of the AIDS crisis through education and challenging of cultural norms. Act4Africa is helping him, while also hoping to bring peace, hope and comfort to the community.

Esta said: "We'd like to make the children smile, as well as giving them information."

She added: "I'm a bit nervous about the expedition, but I also feel a bit odd - I don't want people to think I'm going to Africa to join in with a fashion or trend.

"Although I agree with the Make Poverty History campaign, I think some people are just involved because it seems the thing to do at the moment." For more information about the project, visit www.act4africa.org.uk

The Gazette hopes to publish a feature about Esta's visit when she returns.