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HIFA recognises street kids
Kubatana.net
May 03, 2004

Photograph by Kubatana.net

The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) has come and gone and has been more than just a music festival.

This year those with vehicles parked outside the HIFA venues enjoyed themselves even more knowing that their vehicles where being taken care of by HIFA car attendants.

In line with the objective to create a human face to the festival HIFA this year teamed up with Streets Ahead to employ street youths to guard vehicles around the Harare Gardens and other HIFA venues.

According to HIFA the main objective of this project was to create awareness amongst the public that the street kids "are not a menace but rather a marginalised group that should be given the chance to redeem themselves."

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Manuel Bagorro, Founder and Artistic Director of HIFA, said the street kids have become an important part of the inner-city of Harare and their presence should be recognised. Bagorro further added that this was a pilot project and was meant to serve as a platform on which HIFA can then recommend some of the kids for various other projects.

Maria Wilson, Executive Director for HIFA added that street kids are the first face of the city of Harare and something had to be done to show that they are as important as other people. Maria also pointed out the kids had undergone training on how to handle attitude and be polite to the people. She said "this is an opportunity to give the kids a chance and a choice."

Angeline Kamba, Chairman of HIFA Board of Trustees lamented the practise that had been introduced in the city where the kids were being forcibly removed from the streets and dumped outside the city. She commended HIFA for the humane treatment they have given to the kids.

The HIFA car attendants who spoke to Kubatana on Sunday evening said they where grateful to HIFA for being given the opportunity to be involved in the festival. Despite getting a daily allowance some of the car attendants where not pleased with it. "We are being given $50 000 for the duration of the festival while the school students at the gate are being given more than $500 000."

The attendants said if HIFA was considerate about them and serious about working with them, then they should be given an equal allowance to the students who are ticket checkers at the various entry points at HIFA venues.

HIFA officials could not be reached for comment at the time of updating this web site.

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