WAYout Arts

At a glance

Causes

Arts
Education
Housing and homelessness
Human rights
International development
Mental health
Poverty relief
Training / employment support
Young people

Other details

Geographical remit:

International

Objectives

WAYout changes the lives of street, vulnerable and conflict affected young people through the arts. Working in Sierra Leone, we offer training and shelter, make films that can effect change and record music that enables the excluded to re-engage. We promote artistic freedom, education and empowerment.

WAYout works with street youth and disadvantaged young people, offering them the opportunity to have a voice through creative expression and to learn skills that can lead to employment or re-engagement with education or simply open the door back home.

There is little doubt about the power of the camera to bear witness, influence others and provide a voice for the silent.

Approximately 30% of the 18-35 year olds we work with were combatants during the ten year conflict – a volatile and excluded minority who felt society had rejected them, who were unemployed and had nowhere to live. But now, following the opportunities offered them by WAYout, they have other goals in life and people are no longer afraid of them. We are committed to continue working with ex combatants.

Activities

WAYout’s flagship project is based in Sierra Leone using music and film to enable disadvantaged and conflict affected young people to express themselves. We provide studio space, access to equipment, training and opportunities so that they can tell their stories or explore issues that matter to them. The young people benefit from the projects creatively, socially and economically. Creatively, providing an opportunity to produce work and explore their experiences and talents; socially, providing an opportunity to voice their opinions and feelings and economically, providing them with job opportunities and security for their future.

WAYout hub offers:

Training- free media and music training by professionals
Studio space and equipment – free music recording studio available
Films and videos- we support users to promote their films into festivals and cinemas
Chill-out space- for those who just want somewhere safe to be or to exchange ideas
Editing and shooting facilities- free to our users
Support and advice- technical or personal
Rehearsal and work space-either to create a drama or to meet a client
Competitions- WAYout runs a variety of arts competitions.
WAYout provides music scholarships to students wanting to study at Ballanta, the only music academy in Sierra Leone.
WAYout donated equipment to other organisations working with street and disadvantaged young people like iEARN Sierra Leone and Ballanta Music Academy

STATISTICS IN 2016

TOTAL 2700 young people have come to WAYout since we opened the studio

Total 640 certificates given in filmmaking, script writing, song writing, editing, journalism, studio engineering and photoshop.

Over 500,000 in audience figures

64 street youth into homes

50 members of the WAY street film group.

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