WHO WE ARE
Non-Profit Multimedia Arts and Production youth start up that creates, develops and produces film, documentaries, theater and written anthologies for marginalised communities (women, girls, young adolescents, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, sex workers and sexual minorities) in Uganda. Founded in 2016 by Mulitmdeia Arts Journalist Douglas D. Sebamala and Human Rights Activist Ayesiga E. Herbert, ELESmode is an acronymn for Empowering, Limitless & Enlightening Storytelling. We use creative multimedia arts for sensitization, empowerment and advocacy. We address sexual reproductive health, gender issues, mental health and human rights.
We believe in the power of the visual in compelling positive change perspectives, creating positive mindset and change toward political views, social justice, gender equality and policies affecting marginalized communities. We do this by empowering each of the above constituents in East and Central Africa, starting with Uganda. Our theme "Change Through Media Artistry" defines our vision of inclusion, that shares stories from voices often neglected by international and continental media when addressing issues in Africa. Voices of marginalized groups deserve vessels to be heard, and positive action for empowerment, resilience and social change.
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Goals
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Advocate for human rights, gender equality, health equity and empowerment of marginalized communities across East & Central Africa.
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Become the leading voice for marginalized communities by developing and disseminating multimedia arts stories that challenge and change the narrative of our communities, uninhibited by rights abuse, censorship or lack of resources.
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To provide safe spaces where all members of marginalized groups freely share experiences and own their power by telling their own story to the rest of the world.
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Mission
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Develop East and Central Africa's most inclusive space offering free expression that pioneers rights and gender advocacy, empowerment and sensitization for marginalized communities through multimedia arts production, creative storytelling and advocacy.
WHAT WE DO
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We Develop, Create, Produce and Direct Documentaries, Feature Films, written anthologies.
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Sensitisation on sexual reproductive health, mental health, human rights, women and gender issues.
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Train & organise inclusive workshops for film makers and storytellers.
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Create Multimedia Production, Arts and Culture events/activities targeting marginalised communities.
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Give voice to untold stories to empower the neglected and marginalised.
WHAT WE'RE DOING
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I'm A Girl, an initiative empowering girls in Ndejje Lubugume, a major suburb on the outskirts of Uganda's business district, Kampala. We are equipping girls with skills and information on how to prevent and respond to sexual gender based violence and cater to their personal hygiene during their menstrual period (Started February 2020). To support this initiative, please contact our Women and Gender Issues Head of Department, Ruth Atwiine at out at womenandgenderelesmode@gmail.com
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African Play Readers club in partnership with African Theater Magazine, Sebamala Arts and Waka Talent Agency to combat mental health of artists and literary enthusiasts during the Covid 19 quarantine, providing online creative platforms and promoting African stories. (Started March 2020)
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My Story My Healing under our Healing Center where people share their individual stories, their process of healing to empower other individuals and groups going through similar situations. (Since 2019) The program creates support and empowerment with a community of counsellors and survivors. To share your story, please inbox us on facebook and Twitter or email elesmode@gmail.com.
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Supporting the Data4change program managed by our Co-Founder, Ayesiga Herbert. The project empowers marginalised communities to data for advocacy (2017 to date).
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WHAT WE'VE DONE
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Edited the publication Invisible Scars (Enkovu Ezitalabika), Mental Health research for and about Uganda's queer communities (2019), in partnership with Ice Breakers Uganda.
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Produced and Directed Men of The Night, a social change and advocacy documentary in partnership with an organization by the maiden name, Men of The Night (2016)
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Provided Arts training, workshops and dance choreography for the maiden album of Rainbow Riots Uganda, an LGBT artists based organization (2016-2017).
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We developed the concept for Rainbow Riots Radio (2017-2018)
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Produced and Directed Amplified Change Documentary (2016) with Freedom And Roam Uganda (FARUG), a skills and free expression.
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Provided media assistance and editing for Visual East African Artists's Life on the Streets documentary, which screened at the International AIDS Conference, South Africa in 2016.