Childrens Performing Arts Workshop (Chipawo) failed to travel for the World Festival of Childrens Performing Arts, which is underway in Japan, due to financial constraints.
Chipawo was invited to take part in the festival in Toyama, but could not raise money to send representatives for the cultural exchange event.
Chipawo manager Chipo Bhasopo said the children who were supposed to travel were disappointed by the development.
It is a sad development after being invited for a cultural exchange in Japan, we failed to raise the airfares. The children were raring to go and they were devastated after we failed to raise the money, said Bhasopo.
It was an opportunity that we were not supposed to miss, but because of circumstances beyond our control we had to let it go.
In Japan, the group was expected to perform a play called Sindile, which is an adaptation of the fairytale Cinderella.
Chipawo had earlier on extended their begging bowl for donations from well-wishers to enable them to fulfill the trip, but nothing materialised.
Chipawo Juniors attended a similar festival on June 18 to 25 in Lingen, Germany, where they performed a play called Chipo and the Bird, based on the history of Great Zimbabwe.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The organisation recently hosted a glittering annual end of year concert with pomp and fanfare where they celebrated abundant artistic talent within their ranks.
The event is held to reward children for their good work.
Chipawo children from centres in and out of Harare showcased their artistry to guests, families and friends who graced the night.
Chipawo is an educational, non-profit-making child development trust that empowers children with arts education.
It was founded in 1989 by Julie Frederikse, Robert McLaren, Stephen Chifunyise and Farai Gezi with the objective of introducing and grooming children in as far as the local culture is concerned.
Since then, Chipawo has been involved in several cultural exchange programmes around the globe.
Chipawo at present administers a number of different projects, including those focused on arts education, gender, child rights, HIV and Aids and poverty reduction, among others.
