Europe Africa

EU in Eswatini celebrates the transformative power of art with over 600 youth at EU Bushfire Schools Festival

BRUSSELS, 04 June 2024 / PRN Africa / -- On 30 May 2024, in the context of Europe month, the European Union in Eswatini, in partnership with Bushfire, organised the 2024 edition of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, which brought together more than 600 learners from 38 high schools and out-of-school youth clubs from around Eswatini for a day under the theme: “Art Effect: The Transformative Power of the Creative Economy”.

The festival provided a platform for the young people to experience the magic of art and learn through performances and workshops whilst also discovering career possibilities in the creative arts industry in Eswatini. For the first time this year, teenagers from the refugee reception centre at Malindza, east of Eswatini, also participated in the festival along with students with special needs from institutions such as the school for the deaf in Siteki, also in the east.

During the festival, as part of their creative activities, the youth composed and performed a song titled 'United in Diversity', which is the motto of the European Union.

The EU Film Festival 2024 was also launched at the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, in collaboration with Alliance Française of Mbabane, with the viewing of the local production “A Dream” – a story about creative aspirations and triumph of creativity in the face of adversity.

The festival has been organised since 2010 and takes place ahead of the world-acclaimed MTN Bushfire music festival and uses the same infrastructure.

Copyright European Union, 1995-2024

SOURCE European External Action