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Epworth community outreach launch a success
Win Zimbabwe
October 14, 2013

http://win-zimbabwe.blogspot.com/2013/10/epworth-community-outreach-launch.html

Saturday October 12 2013 left an impression on the minds of those who witnessed the official launch of WIN-Zimbabwe’s Epworth Outreach programme at Domboramwari High School in Epworth.

The impressive poetry recitals and readings by students and, at times, their principals, attested to the reality that Epworth got talent.

Guest of Honor Aaron Chiundura Moyo, an actor, script writer and accomplished Shona novelist, gave a profound speech before he declared the outreach officially launched. He then, on behalf of WIN, handed over booklets of stories and poems as a gift to the twelve writers’ clubs present.

Chiundura Moyo said new writers are fortunate these days because they now have more opportunities to meet established writers than his generation had when they started writing in the 60’s and 70’s.

He gave tips on various elements of writing style and the importance of using a language that one is comfortable with.

“Writing is a gift but education helps sharpen the gift and opens the mind,” he told the new writers. The booklets which were donated to writers’ clubs feature some of Glen 2 High Writers Club members and other children from Hope Centre, Snake Park centre for disadvantaged children and Faith Ministries in Mbare who took part in a project done last year by Centre for Development of Women and Children (CDWC) in collaboration with WIN-Zimbabwe.

Glen View 2 High Writers Club, led by Mr. I Chirumbwana and Bethel Academy Writers Club, led by Mr. Freedom Gengezha, attended the launch in support of Epworth and did well to inspire their friends who returned the love with outstanding involvement.

Poet Tinashe Muchuri and established writer Memory Chirere, who are also secretary and executive board member of Zimbabwe Writers Association respectively, and Mrs. Chipo Muvezwa of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust which is sponsoring the outreach programme, also graced the occasion.

Memory Chirere read from a story called 'Mwana' from his book Tudikidiki while poets Tinashe ‘Mutumwapavi’ Muchuri, Simbarashe Jongwe, Bernard Sibanda and Elias Dzenga gave polished renditions of their Shona poems, leaving the students clamoring for more.

Mrs. Muvezwa said the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe supports the work of individual artists, associations, or schools. She said in the literary sector her organization is currently working with various organizations such as WIN, the Zimbabwe International Book Fair, Harare City Library and Bulawayo Public Library with the aim to grow platforms for interaction of arts activities in Zimbabwe. She said it is important to note that established writers are humbling themselves to find time to be with new writers in Epworth and such humility cannot be taken for granted.

The superb embodiment of poetry by primary school pupils particularly from Makomo and Chizungu Primary schools had everyone touched by the power of their confidence and fluency.

WIN also gave a summary of the outreach programme, saying it will conduct writing skills training workshops and competitions with the aim to produce a mixed anthology. However, WIN emphasized that interest in writing is an ingredient of growth for an aspiring writer.

The writers’ association announced that it will name its writers clubs after the names of Zimbabwean writers but said it will first consult relatives of writers in the case of those departed and also talk to heads of schools to get proper endorsement for this worthwhile naming move.

The launch could not have carried the joy that it had without the 6energy it was given by the emcee Princess Sibanda who made everyone feel the pulse of the launch.

Schools and colleges represented at the launch were Domboramwari High, Kubatana Primary School, Young Africa Academy, Bethel Academy (from Budiriro), Chizungu Primary School, Muguta Secondary School, Epworth High School, oxford Academy, Epworth Methodist Academy, Bilaal Islamic Academy, Makomo Primary School and Glen View 2 High.

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