Comedian Don Andre has embarked on a tour to fight mental health using standup comedy, and he has developed a concept called the Chalk on Jokes comedy school tour. The tours will traverse the country in Uganda, addressing mental health and dangers and how to overcome them.
The Chalk on Jokes tour launched on Sunday at Namugongo Secondary and Vocational School and the comedians delivered as promised. To begin the program at the school, the comedians gave a chance to the students who had potential in comedy to showcase. From seniors one to four, Don Andre called on one class after the other, and indeed, they impressed their fellow students.
He later invited his fellow comedians, who continued to crack jokes but centering all jokes on school life, mental health and how it can be tackled. The list of comedians had Papatunde, Timothy Nyanzi, Ann Kansiime, Daniel Omara and Optional Allan.
Kansiime who performed last, urged the students to always stand up for what they believe is true because it will set them free or else send them into a mental breakdown. “Not having sanitary pads itself can break you mentally,” Kansiime told the students. She went on and told them that some of them see mental health as something small, but some can suffer the consequences.
The Chalk on Jokes Tour is also supported by The Kansiime Foundation, Sheebah Cares, and Holics Pads. According to Don Andre, his target is to visit almost all the schools in Uganda where he will be visiting one school after the other with the goal of fighting mental health in youths.