One World, Many Voices
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The Conshohocken Plymouth Whitemarsh Rotary Club (CPW Rotary) is launching One World, Many Voices, a global youth arts initiative created in partnership with the Karama Education Center (KEC) in Uganda and Conshy United Missions & Outreach.
The partnership with KEC began with a Living Waters for the World filtration system and has grown to include solar power for the entire campus, a digital learning center, and a gardening program that now provides students with two nutritious meals each day. These projects have strengthened opportunity, health, and connections between our communities.
Nyamigoye Parish—home to KEC—has a population of 7,168, with more than 60% under age 30. With no secondary school in the region, youth programs are essential. One World, Many Voices meets this need by empowering young leaders through music, storytelling, cultural exchange, and service.
The initiative will equip and strengthen KEC’s Music, Dance & Drama Program, launch a global songwriting contest. and provide an opportunity for local students to travel to Uganda and connect with KEC’s youth in 2027. Together, the partnership is building cultural understanding, expanding opportunities for youth, and creating a shared platform for young people to connect across continents.
Equipping the Music, Dance & Drama Program
The Music, Dance, and Drama Program strengthens cultural identity, builds confidence, and supports public health communication—but lacks instruments, costumes, and training materials. The initiative will provide traditional instruments, cultural costumes, and professional instruction, expanding access to arts education for a predominantly young population.
“This project will be a tremendous boost to the creativity of young learners and will strengthen cultural preservation, physical activity, and public health promotion in our community,” said Denis Twinamatsiko, KEC Founder.
One World, Many Voices Songwriting Contest
Songwriters worldwide are invited to submit original songs celebrating unity, hope, and global friendship. Submissions are due 9/15/2026, and the winning song will be revealed October 24th at Jillian’s Café with live and virtual performances.
The contest is free to enter, and the winner receives: $1,000, five recording sessions, a live concert performance, their song performed by KEC students and featured in the documentary!
Youth Mission Partnership
In 2027, CPW Rotary will lead a fully supervised youth mission experience connecting students from our region with KEC students and recent graduates. Participants will collaborate on arts projects, service learning, and cultural immersion—living out Rotary’s commitment to peacebuilding and global citizenship. The Youth Mission Partnership includes:
Virtual exchanges beginning January 2027
Cultural preparation and Ugandan food sampling
Training with U.S. music teachers
Bringing rhythm instruments as gifts and performing with the music and dance students
Informational sessions for families will take place in October and November. Youth will receive fundraising training and contribute $1,000 toward their estimated $3,500 travel cost. All chaperones will have PA and FBI clearances. Rotary, Interact Clubs or other teen groups are invited to participate.
How You Can Be Part of This
Click on image to download flyer
Share the Songwriting Contest here: cpwrotary.com/songwriting-contest. or download the Contest Flyer. Submissions are due by September 15, 2026.
Celebrate with us by attending and promoting the Celebration of the winning song at Jillian’s Café in Conshohocken, PA in October 2026
Share the project with Rotary Interact clubs and high school students. Please notify us by September 30, 2026 of interested youth. We will reach out to them prior to the organizational meeting in October.
Invite us to present at a Rotary, Interact, or youth club.
Contact: Pat Patterson, CPW Rotary Foundation Chair at pattersonp50@gmail.com 267-256-9205
Visit: cpwrotary.com/songwriting-contest for more information about the contest and the history of our work at KEC. Or donate: Lafayette Foundation to support the 2027 Youth Mission Partnership.