Mashirika, a creative and performing arts group will soon start awarding best dancers and actors who train with the group. 

The group uses performing arts not only for entertainment but also as a tool for social transformation.

The group conducts acting and dancing classes every Saturday and Sunday.

Simon Iyarwema is an actor, dancer and the choreographer at Mashirika. He says that by mid this year, they will start offering certificates to the best students under the dancing and acting category.

"Right now we do a monthly evaluation but will soon start giving out certificates after every three months,” says Iyarwema.

Iyarwema, together with comedian Arthur Nkusi, conduct the dancing lessons, while Eliane Umuhire conducts the acting session. "We believe we have skills that others don’t have and we share them at no cost,” Iyarwema adds.

Intake of students is continuous throughout the year and lessons are free.

Mashirika has had successful productions on the national and international scene. Among them is Mukosi a campaign skit on reproductive health for Delivery of Improved Services for Health (DISH) and the Family Planning Association of Uganda (FPAU).

The group also participated and performed in a symposium organised by the International Drama Education in Kenya (KIDEA) and also staged the play Fire Stones, Amashyiga ya Seshutsitwa, at the Call of Arts Symposium at Harvard University in USA.

The group also participated in the 2006 Contacting The World (CTW) festival with the plays like Hope Under Fire and Rwanda My Home, which featured in 15 UK schools and theatres.