Day Two: Rights, Resilience, and Celebration at the Youth Holiday Workshop

PurpleMinds Foundation

9/14/20263 min read

After an incredible first day, our 50 youth participants returned on 11th September 2026 for Day Two of the "Healing Minds, Growing Hope" Youth Holiday Workshop in Bukamba, Kayunga. The energy was high, the smiles were wide, and the day was filled with learning, connection, and celebration.

A Nourishing Start

The day began with a rollcall, as we welcomed back all the youth who returned for Day Two. It was heartwarming to see so many familiar faces, ready and eager for another day of growth.

Then came a very special breakfast – prepared by the PurpleMinds Women's Resilience Circle – Cohort 1. These incredible women, who are part of our ongoing 9-week program, cooked and served a delicious meal for the youth. It was a beautiful moment of intergenerational connection: women supporting youth, youth learning from women. The breakfast was not just food; it was love, community, and care.

Knowing Your Rights: A Talk from Afande Swale Mutiima

Our Founder, Mr. Hassan Ssengendo, opened the day with a warm welcome and introduced our guest speaker: Afande Swale Mutiima, Head of Operations at Bukamba Police Post.

Afande Swale delivered a powerful and practical talk on knowing your rights and avoiding bad groups. He spoke directly to the youth about the dangers of peer pressure, the importance of staying focused on their goals, and how to make choices that protect their future. He emphasised that knowing their rights empowers them to make informed decisions and resist negative influences.

The youth listened intently and asked thoughtful questions, engaging in a real dialogue about safety, responsibility, and community. Thank you, Afande, for investing your time and wisdom in our young people.

Mindbus Foundation: A Safe Space to Talk, Play, and Create

After the police talk, the team from Mindbus Foundation led an interactive session that transformed mental health conversations into drawing, laughter, games, sharing, and learning.

As Mindbus Foundation shared in their own reflection:

"What happens when children are given a safe space to talk, play, create and simply be themselves? Last Friday, we found out. Together with PurpleMinds Foundation, we turned mental health conversations into drawing, laughter, games, sharing and learning – creating a space where children could express their emotions and feel heard. Because mental health conversations don't have to be complicated. Sometimes, they start with a crayon, a game, a smile or simply asking, 'How are you feeling?'"

The session was deeply impactful. The youth opened up, expressed themselves freely, and learned that mental health is not something to be ashamed of – it is something to talk about, explore, and care for.

Thank you, Mindbus Foundation, for creating a safe, joyful, and healing space with us.

Celebrating Our Youth: Certificate Awarding

The climax of the day was the certificate awarding ceremony. Each of the 50 youth received a certificate of participation, recognising their commitment to learning and growth over the two days.

Special thanks to Mindbus Foundation for celebrating the children and recognising their participation with certificates. The smiles on their faces said it all – they felt seen, valued, and proud.

A Family Photo to Remember

We ended the day with a group photo – one big, beautiful, diverse family of youth, facilitators, and partners. It captured the essence of the workshop: unity, joy, and hope.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Over two days, our 50 youth participants learned about:

Mental health and self-esteem
Financial literacy
Sexual reproductive health
Knowing their rights
Climate action and gardening
Leadership and teamwork

They played, laughed, danced, and grew. They arrived as individuals and left as a community.

This is just the beginning. PurpleMinds Foundation will continue to support these young people through ongoing Youth Resilience Clubs and peer support circles. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders, change-makers, and hope-bearers in Bukamba and beyond.

Gratitude

We extend our deepest gratitude to:

Afande Swale Mutiima and the Bukamba Police Post for the rights education session.
Mindbus Foundation for the interactive mental health session and certificates.
PurpleMinds Women's Resilience Circle – Cohort 1 for preparing breakfast.
Mr. Gava Farid (CEO, Amga Cleaning Solutions) for the financial literacy session on Day One.
Nakuya Annet and Nakhamia Catherine for the health education session.
Mr. Nyombi James for the free haircuts.
Our partners: Mind Bus, Kema Skilling Hub, Hailey Deco, Amga Cleaning Solutions, and Pearl Bank.
The 50 youth who showed up with open minds and open hearts.

Join Us

This work is made possible by the generous support of partners and donors. If you would like to support our next Youth Holiday Workshop or our ongoing programs, please reach out.

Contact:
Ssengendo Hassan (Dexta)
Founder & Executive Director
PurpleMinds Foundation
📞 +256 770 418 403
📧 info@purplemindsfoundation.org