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EU in Eswatini celebrates the transformative power of art with over 600 youth at EU Bushfire Schools Festival

On 30 May 2024, in the context of Europe month, the European Union in Eswatini, in partnership with Bushfire, organised the 2024 edition of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, which brought together more than 600 learners from 38 high schools and out-of-school youth clubs from around Eswatini for a day under the theme: “Art Effect: The Transformative Power of the Creative Economy”.

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    One of the acrobatics performed during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    Learners from Malindza refugee reception centre who were participating in the EU Bushfire Schools Festival for the first time. They are posing here with EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, and EU Political Counsellor, Robert Adam.

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    EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, speaking during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival on 30 May 2024.

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    Learners having a good time during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    Learners performing during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    Learners with special needs posing with EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival on 30 May 2024.

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    Learners participating in the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024 marching to the festival arena at House on Fire in Malkerns.

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    Drum majorettes, with the EU flag, leading learners into the EU Bushfire Schools Festival arena on 30 May 2024.

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    Orchestra performance during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    The EU team led by EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, waving to the students at the end of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival on 30 May 2024.

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    EU team members clapping to the students as they waved them goodbye at the end of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    School learners visiting the EU Delegation stand to learn more about the EU. This was during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    School learners with EU and Bushfire teams posing for a group photo at the end of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival on 30 May 2024.

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    More fun at the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini where 600 learners from high schools and out-of-school youth clubs participated.

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    Learners with special needs performing during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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    School learners marching with the EU flag during the EU Bushfire Schools Festival in Eswatini on 30 May 2024.

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The festival provided a platform for the young people to experience the magic of art and learn through performances and workshops whilst also discovering career possibilities in the creative arts industry in Eswatini. For the first time this year, teenagers from the refugee reception centre at Malindza, east of Eswatini, also participated in the festival along with students with special needs from institutions such as the school for the deaf in Siteki, also in the east.

During the festival, as part of their creative activities, the youth composed and performed a song titled 'United in Diversity', which is the motto of the European Union.

The EU Film Festival 2024 was also launched at the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, in collaboration with Alliance Française of Mbabane, with the viewing of the local production “A Dream” – a story about creative aspirations and triumph of creativity in the face of adversity.

The festival has been organised since 2010 and takes place ahead of the world-acclaimed MTN Bushfire music festival and uses the same infrastructure.