EZT invited to attend a culture conference in Canada, admitted as a member of the international culture federation

EZT Cultural Troupe performing

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has officially been invited to attend an international conference from 25th to 28th October 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The conference will also be attended by organizations which are in the field of art and culture from around the world.

The 5th Congress of International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity will be attended by the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who will use the international network on culture and push for support to establish a Uganda Cultural Diversity Coalition.

EngabuZaTooro will also seek support of the federation to mobilize Ugandan organizations in the field of art and culture, to form a Uganda Coalition which will in turn attract full membership to the global federation.

The international conference on culture organized by the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) is supported by the Government of Canada. Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) was officially admitted as an associate member of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD).

A Painting of Stephen Rwagweri on a backcloth

As an associate member, Engabu Za Tooro therefore represents Uganda in the Federations Congress that takes place every three years in different cities of the world.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki, who is the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro last represented Uganda in the international conference on culture in 2015 with support from the Commonwealth Foundation.

Engabu Za Tooro a 19 years old Ugandan NGO with vast experience in culture programmes is accredited to UNESCO and currently implementing UNESCO co-funded project among Empaako Communities in Western Uganda.

A group photo of cultural practitioners after training by EZT

In addition, Engabu Za Tooro is accredited to provide advisory services to UNECSO (ICH Convention) and also accredited to participate in observer capacity in the sessions of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore which takes place four times a year at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Engabu Za Tooro is also an official Uganda representative observer on the International Council of Organisations for Folklore, Folk art and Festivals (CIOFF) and is currently working to establish a Uganda national network for folk groups and festivals for Uganda to qualify for full membership to this international council. Both IFCCD and CIOFF are headquartered in Montreal, Canada.