The project is led by DBF's Secretary General Claudien Tuyisabe, and a central participant in the project is Vincent Bugozi. He grew up on Gotland and today is a successful musician and entrepreneur based in London. Vincent shares his experiences and shows the youth how cultural passions can be transformed into successful businesses.
The project is funded with project support from Leader Gute and is carried out in collaboration with several different local and regional actors. It is open to all young people, with a particular focus on supporting young people with foreign backgrounds living in Gotland's countryside.
Successful start
The project began with three successful and well-attended workshops and advisory sessions in Fårösund, Hemse, and Klintehamn during November-December:
• Fårösund: 22 young people participated on November 6.
• Hemse: 23 young people participated on November 9.
• Klintehamn: 26 young people participated on December 6.
– The interest among the youth is great. Many dream of turning their cultural passions into businesses and creating a future where they can live off their creative talents, says Claudine Tuyisabe, Secretary General of DBF and project leader for Ung KulturBoost Gotland.
Until spring 2025, several workshops and advisory sessions will be held in various locations on Gotland, including Fårösund, Hemse, Klintehamn, and Roma. The youth are offered the opportunity to participate multiple times to gradually develop their ideas and skills.
– On International Women's Day, March 8, 2025, we will also organize a workshop and advisory session in Fårösund with a special focus on young women, Claudien explains.
Creativity and entrepreneurship
The project's structure combines two main areas:
Creative creation: The youth have the opportunity to develop their talents in music, dance, film, and other cultural expressions.
Entrepreneurship: Participants receive basic knowledge about business planning, marketing, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
As a complement to the workshops, personal business counseling is offered to help the youth concretize their business ideas and take their first steps towards economic independence.
– We provide the youth with individual assistance to strengthen their opportunities to develop their ideas and create a financially sustainable future, explains Claudien.
Vincent Bugozi – from Gotland to London
One of the inspiring profiles in the project is Vincent Bugozi, an artist and entrepreneur with roots in Gotland. Vincent, who originally comes from Tanzania, grew up on Gotland and studied at Romaskolan and Visby gymnasium before furthering his education at a university in London (YEL). Today, he is an established pop artist and entrepreneur with two successful companies.
– Vincent's journey shows that it is possible to turn dreams into reality, and he provides our youth with invaluable insights into how to build a career in creative industries, says Claudien.
Vincent participates in all training sessions and generously shares his experiences.
Closing event at Wisby Strand
The project culminates with a large closing event at Wisby Strand on April 26, 2025. Here, the youth will showcase their progress through performances, exhibitions, and other activities. During the day, personal counseling will also be offered with participating actors such as Coompanion, GoAd, Bunge Vandrarhem AB, The Smales, among others.
– The event will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the youth's successes and inspire more to dare to invest in their ideas, says Claudien.
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The image:
Claudien Tuyisabe, DBF, and Anders Ahlin, Coompanion, explain how passions in, for example, music, dance, film, and other cultural expressions can become sustainable businesses. 26 young people participated in the meeting at KUFF youth center in Klintehamn on December 6.