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New CHIPAWO television programme begins to take off
CHIPAWO
June 01, 2009

'NDE'PI GEN'A?' MEANS 'WHAT'S UP, GANG?'

The second CHIPAWO television series to be wholly produced directed and edited by the youth, 'Nde'pi gen'a', is going down well with children and young people. Zipplily edited, with lots of catchy graphics, and dynamically presented by Charlene Vhuta, Charmaine Picardo and Thabiso Dube, it seems to have struck just the right note and already has a rapidly growing Fan Club all over the country, with its young viewers urging the producers to come to their area.

Unfortunately this cannot be done as yet as there is no budget for the programme and expenses are coming out of CHIPAWO's meagre pockets. But with some sponsorship, this programme could go far and begin to appeal and talk to and for children and young people all over Zimbabwe.

The basic format is a section in which a weekly group of children is visited and a topic related to the things children like, is explored, with the children talking, performing and clowning to the camera. Then there is an 8-minute 'ngano' or traditional story told by Uncle Steve (the well-known playwright and so many other things, Stephen Chifunyise) followed lastly by an interview cum profile of a 'star' or 'idol', so far mostly singers, that children and young people go gaga over.

As the programme develops it will be trying to keep a balance between pure fun and entertainment and what in CHIPAWO we call the 'Mwana Anokosha' Element - this means ' children are precious' and refers to the more serious content related to child welfare, rights, HIV/AIDS and gender.

CHIPAWO DAY

Also coming up on the calendar is CHIPAWO Day, 16th June, the day of the Soweto Uprising, designated by the African Union as the Day of the African Child.

On the day itself, Tuesday, the European Union-funded presentation of the Participatory Theatre Communications with young women on HIV/AIDS and gender will be taking place with a group of 40 girls at Mabelreign Girls High School.

It will be observed not only by Xavier Marchal, Head of Delegation of the EU but also various invited guests and groups of ten girls from another 5 Harare high schools.

However on the Saturday following, 20th June, there will be a special event

DRAADMANSKAP - TBA

Coming up very soon is a blog article on the essential and highly-prized quality of 'draadmanskap' - a personal testament to the value I have placed on the attribute over a long life of working in difficult circumstances.

Visit the CHIPAWO fact sheet

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