Mashirika targets teens in new video about mental health

A portal by a group of talented teenagers is opening between three cities around the globe this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, there will be a live video streaming event dubbed Can You Hear Me Now? featuring young people from three cities- Kigali (Rwanda), Kampala (Uganda), and Bristol (UK). Can You Hear Me Now? is a new production by local theater troupe, Mashirika Performing Arts And Media Company supported by the British Council. The production seeks to address the mental health issues of teenagers with regards to social media. The theatrical production is a performance between Kigali (Rwanda), Kampala (Uganda), and Bristol (UK), to find out if the internet does what we need it to do,” explained Hope Azeda, founder and artistic director of Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company, adding that “there is nothing like friendship.” “We are engaging young people about the dark side of the internet. Many young people today are under peer pressure on social media. Families are splitting because home is not home enough. As a result, there is jealousy, anxiety, depression, and it’s really common in middle class families. Wielding the power of the World Wide Web, the young technicians in the three countries will defy time and geography to find each other. What messages will be sent, and what will get lost or stuck in between? When there are glitches they will want to know why,” she explained. The production is directed by Brian Geza and Caroline Williams, and will be streamed on November 24 and 25 at 8p.m. The 17-minute production will be staged in the Peace Room at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi. The event will also be live streamed on the official Facebook page of the Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Entertainment

Mashirika targets teens in new video about mental health