THE Children’s Performing Arts Workshop (Chipawo) is extending their begging bowl as they intend to travel to Uganda for a 10-day cultural exchange programme from April 19 to 29
Report by Winstone Antonio
Almost 15 Chipawo children aged between seven and 12 will make up the team that will represent the nation in Uganda after they hosted their Ugandan counterparts in Harare for a one-week workshop last year.
The cultural exchange programme is being held under theme: “My strength, my culture, my identity.”
Chipawo manager Chipo Bhasopo said they couldn’t afford to miss the festival.
“We are extending our begging bowl to both well-wishers and relevant stakeholders to enable us to go to Uganda.
“The hosts, Inter-theatre Uganda (ITU) have undertaken to cater for all other expenses like accommodation, transport and food once we arrive in Uganda for the 10 days,” said Bhasopo.
“This cultural exchange programme is not only a good learning exercise for the children, but also important for the development of the Zimbabwean arts industry.
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The children are the future leaders of the diverse local arts and culture industry.
“Chipawo, who will be ambassadors of Zimbabwe to Uganda, will make presentations that will show how cultural and resourceful our country is,” she added.
Meanwhile, as part of Chipawo’s efforts to raise funds for their air tickets, today they host a fundraising concert starting at 1600 hours at Mutevedzi Hall, 15
Morningside Drive in Mt Pleasant, Harare.
“As much as we would seek for help, we have also come up with the idea of a fundraising concert were businesspeople, captains of industry, theatre enthusiasts, embassies, donors and well-wishers are all invited,” said Bhasopo.
ITU was established in 2008 with the aim of developing and promoting amateur theatre.
This is a platform for children to express their views to the world and showcase their cultures to different arts representatives from various parts of the world.
ITU has travelled to many countries participating in various festivals and exchange programmes where they met the children from Zimbabwe and agreed to have an exchange programme, with the Ugandans being the first to visit Zimbabwe last year for a week-long workshop.
Chipawo has become Zimbabwe’s leading arts education platform for children.
Chipawo has been invited to represent the country at many international festivals and exchange programmes.
They have been to China, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, America and Europe.
