I am Somebody’s Child Soldier presents Uganda National Contemporary Ballet

Join I am Somebody’s Child Soldier and Uganda National Contemporary Ballet on Saturday 6th December 2014 at WAC Arts theatre for an extraordinary performance by Valerie Miquel called “Cry For Women's Dignity”. Cry For Women’s Dignity is a solo piece performed by the lead choreographer of Uganda National Contemporary Ballet, Valerie Miquel.

The piece illustrates a battered girl’s situation in conflict where she is raped and dishonored and left to bare the children of army commanders as a child herself. The purpose of the piece is to give girls in conflict the strength to say NO!

The piece is being performed in conjunction with a UK registered charity for child soldiers and child victims of war called ‘I am Somebody’s Child Soldier’. The charity specialises in providing on-going psychotherapy to rescued child soldiers and child victims of war in Africa who suffer from post-war trauma.

Cry For Women’s Dignity is a committed creation, which uses the emotional power of dance and music, the language of the body and some effects videos to help raise awareness in society of violence against girls in conflict.

The piece also calls society to reject the "assuaging circumstance" created to exempt the aggressors of their responsibility, such as claimed consent of the girls or the indulgence in cultural relativism.

Female child soldiers are victims of immature men, egocentrics and even those men presenting grave personality disorders. Very often the girls do not dare to denounce this violence for fear of reprisals: they feel like the culprit and that they are responsible for the situation of violence. Besides the physical violence, remains the moral violence, loss of liberty, hardship of autonomy and the will of alienation.

The event will also feature performances from musicians Luke Carey and Mary-Grace Dineen and spoken African poetry from MR.K. Guest speakers on the night include human rights activists and mental health practitioners.

Special guest speaker Mr. Paul Findlay, Assistant Vice President of UK Community Investment at Barclays bank, will be delivering a keynote speech on the impact of post-war trauma on soldiers. At a meeting with the CEO of the charity, Mrs. Shirah Mansaray, Mr. Findlay stated ‘I am excited to attend the production and to see the work I am Somebody’s Child Soldier has accomplished, I know the funds raised will be very much needed, I am Somebody’s Child Soldier is fighting for a great cause which I am glad to be a part of.’

There will also be a silent auction on the night and a VIP drinks reception.

100% proceeds from donations raised from these performances go to I am Somebody’s Child Soldier charity and will specifically go towards diagnosing mental health and improving the quality of life of rescued child soldiers and victims of war currently attending Laroo Boarding School, in Gulu.