Micro Fest - Macro Quest
The ASKnet Micro Festival 2025 in close collaboration with Oysters & Pearls Uganda was an event dedicated to strategic knowledge exchange and community-driven actions. The festival’s activities are centered around Artivism, Activism and Apprenticeship - nested in the principle that focused, local actions can drive vast, systemic transformation. It brought together the #ASKnet members and the Gulu community for deep dives into critical topics, evaluating ideas transforming thoughts into actionable, grass root strategies.
Here we share some general impressions of the event:
#ASKnet MicroFest 2025 - general impressions
Collective action by moving beyond discussion
The Mico Fest offered a range of complementary approaches and programmes designed to foster collaboration and community engagement. Activities focused on skill sharing and practical application. A strong emphasis was placed on community integration through open dialogue and informed, real-world experiences. The programme also encouraged collective action by moving beyond discussion towards shared commitments and the development of new partnerships. In addition, participants engaged in idea exchange and showcases through interactive formats such as gallery walks, workshops, repair cafés, and jam sessions.
Poster Gallery Walk
All #ASKnet members from Uganda and South Sudan presented their organisations and activities in the format of a facilitated poster gallery walk, where guests and peers could enjoy stories from different locations and contexts, shared experiences and perspectives from the region.
More than 20 formats and actions
The two days programme of workshops and presentations addressed several topics and needs of the #ASKnet members. More than 20 single activities contributed to an intense exchange of knowledge and experiences, e.g.: an introduction to the concept of “Cycle of Socialization and Liberation”, a presentation of #ASKlead and #ASKaggregator network platforms or a workshop related to the “Refugee Archives Screening Project”.
Putting people with disabilities first
In a parallel 2-days workshop some stakeholders have developed a project for capacity and structure building of media work for and by people with disabilities in Northern Uganda in 2026. The project aims to train both professional and volunteer media producers for more inclusive reporting and familiarize those affected with digital assistance systems for media production. In public presentations the experiences by network members and partners implementing relevant PwD-projects were shared and discussed.
Kifaya - Enough is Enough
A highlight in the evening was a powerful showcase of new, original works co-created by South Sudanese refugee and host community artists and individual pieces on different subjects. It was part of the Kifaya Connecting Information and Emotions project, an initiative designed to leverage music, art, and the influence of artists to champion peace. Kifaya, an Arabic word meaning “Enough is Enough,” is a call to mobilize voices against violence, division, and suffering within South Sudanese communities.
Kifaya - Where did we go wrong?