CHIPAWO: Children are the best ambassadors

13 Jul, 2014 - 06:07 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

In slightly over a week, July 23 to be specific, a group of children from Zimbabwe’s renowned arts education for development and employment organisation, Chipawo, leave for the World Festival of Children’s Theatre in Lingen, Germany. The 15 young artistes between the ages of five and 16 will be accompanied by three adults that will see the team also crossing into Denmark for a week-long programme at the Children and Youth Theatre. The Sunday Mail Leisure’s Mtandazo Dube (MD) spoke to Chipawo manager Chipo Basopo (CB) ahead of the trip. Read on.

MD: What is this Germany trip all about?
CB: It is about the World Festival of Children’s Theatre, which has its origin in 1990 and is the first festival for children’s theatre. It is one of the most important international festivals in this field. In 2014, it will return to its place of birth in Lingen, Germany. We will be in Germany and Denmark between July 23 and August 10.

MD: How does this trip benefit the travelling children, Chipawo and Zimbabwe?
CB: The festival gives children an opportunity to share their culture, stories and songs through theatre. But above all the children also create relationships with other children from different countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Burkina Faso, Japan and Belgium, among others, that are participating at the festival. The festival will initiate exchange programmes of all the participating countries.

For Zimbabwe, children are the best ambassadors and can play very effective roles in the promotion of a country in terms of international relations, trade and tourism. These children will raise the country’s flag high through the arts. During the festival the children will be sharing what they know best about their country, the places they have been and how they live.

MD: Which other festivals has Chipawo participated in outside Zimbabwe?
CB: Chipawo has participated in many festivals around the world and has been to Germany more than twice. Other countries include Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Norway, India, Germany, Denmark, Finland, China, Japan, Malawi and USA, among many others.

MD: You are a product of Chipawo. Tell us your experiences leading up to your appointment as manager of the organisation?
CB: I joined Chipawo in 1993 where training in arts education began and I was groomed to be able to be anything in the arts from singing, dancing and acting to being an administrator. It was through the leadership of people like Dr Robert McLaren, Stephen Chifunyise, Clayton Ndlovu, Richard Ndlovu, the late Elizabeth Takawira and brother Chatikobo, among others, that I turned out the way I did.

It has been a long journey and the struggle to professionalise the arts and ensure that future generations gain from our experience continues.

MD: How tough is it to manage an organisation as big as Chipawo. Considering that you have to deal with children as young as four years old?
CB: Well, it is tough at times but you have to have a way out of it so that you will not destroy what has been built. It is a culture developed over several years and perfected over time. Personally I have learnt from those that were in charge when I joined and as I rose through the ranks.

They were all great and good with children, but of course, one has to have their own way of doing things. It takes courage, focus, great communication, dedication and the gift of love, love for the children. When I am with the children I am like one of them, a child and I try to think the same way they do. That is why we laugh and play all the way and get work done.

MD: How many children make up Chipawo in all its centres countrywide?
CB: The number of children fluctuates, but in all the 71 centres nationwide we have over 1 000. Because of the growth in the popularity of Chipawo, the children’s numbers are increasing by the day.

MD: What is your vision for Chipawo?
CB: The company has been in existence for 25 years now and my vision is to create a permanent home for this organisation. That is the legacy I want to leave for the future generations of Chipawo, a centre of their own, which will house the headquarters and host all of Chipawo’s major events. Apart from that I want capable young people to be in leadership positions because they have the energy while older generations concentrate on preserving our culture and ensuring that it is shared with all for the betterment of our children.

MD: Which programmes does Chipawo offer?
CB: Many programmes fall under our arts education for development and employment. These include music, dance, drama, presentation, empowerment of girls, life skills, disability arts and advocacy, youth leadership and democracy, musical instrument making and costume design, and the media.

MD: Tell us more about Chipawo’s sister organisations or centres outside the country?
CB: We call it Chipawo World, where we have gone to share our experiences with our neighbouring countries. Chipawo World is a children and young people’s arts education for development and employment initiative with a powerful capacity to effect change. It is child-driven and open to all children, including disadvantaged children in urban and rural communities, HIV/AIDS orphans, the deaf, and the physically and mentally challenged.

So far Chipawo has launched sister organisations who are also lead by young people in Bostwana (CHIPABO), Namibia (CHINAMIBIA), South Africa (CHISA), Zambia (CHIEZA) and have a world initiative called CHAREWO meaning Children’s Arts Education World which has interests in countries like Australia, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sweden and Uganda.

MD: Who are some of the top artistes that have passed through Chipawo?
CB: There are many and they include the late Chiwoniso Maraire, David Chifunyise, Thando McLaren, Danai Gurira (actress and Almasi founder USA), Rute Mbangwa, Farai Kuzvidza (producer and director of popular children’s TV show, Nde’pi gen’a?’), Tito Shoshore (drummer), Tsitsi Tizora (Umoja programme organiser), Malvern Potwayo (music teacher in Zimbabwe and in China), Catherine Chirongoma (skilled digital video editor), Charmaine Picardo (SAFAIDS youth role model), Tafadzwa “Jack” Chimbetete (well-known television personality), Cynthia Njagu (ZBC) and Wellington Makoni, the list is endless.

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