Tough times at Chipawo
More Children”.
Unlike other years where they host an average of 10 programmes and around three cultural exchange programmes, this year they have held less than four events. The failure by Chipawo to function properly would be a major blow to the local arts industry considering their significant contribution to the sector.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail Leisure, Chipawo manager Chipo Basopo shed more light on the predicament the organisation is in.
“This year we only got funding from Culture Fund for our outreach programme, ‘Bringing Chipawo to More Children’, where we went to Chiredzi, Masvingo and Guruve carrying out training programmes for teachers and artistes in those areas so that they would also teach children in those areas,” said Basopo.
“It’s unfortunate that we have had to cut some of our events because we do not have funding, for example ‘The International Language Day’ that we hold every year in February.”
She also added that this year they have failed to attend any international festivals, displaying the gravity of the matter.
“We were also supposed to have gone for the 14th World Festival of Children’s Theatre in Canada but we failed to raise the funds for the trip. In the past, we have never failed to attend an international festival because of funding but this year things have been really tough for us.”
They will, however, be travelling to Zambia on October 8 for Children’s Arts and Culture Festival and also Namibia during the first week of December for the same programme with parents coming in to aid in financing the trips.
Three Chipawo youths have also managed to raise their own funds to travel to India this week for an internship that will run until December. Chipawo managed to squeeze in a few events during the year with minimal resources and the help of well-wishers.
“We did ‘Theatre Day for Children and Young People’ despite that we didn’t have funding. Our friends from abroad chipped in to pay for the venue and the chil- dren’s parents also aided in every way they could.
“In June we staged a play ‘Who is a Child’, by Girl Power at Theatre in The Park in commemoration of the Day of the African Child but we didn’t do it like we usually do for Chipawo Day since we did not have enough resources to bring all the kids.”
She said they are now looking for funds to finance their end of year concert and the Chipawo Christmas Show, which are significant events on their calendar.
“We can cancel all the other events but the Christmas show is a must and a tradition for Chipawo children. This show involves a 10-day camp where we create our own work and then we present it to the public.”
They are also planning on putting up some of their plays at Theatre in the Park for the remainder of the year. Basopo said they were working on a plan to see how best they can solve the financial situation that has crippled their functionality.
“We are working with our Children’s Council and the Youth Council to make short- term and long-term plans on how we are going to sustain our programmes. We probably have to cut things that we think are not major and raise money for important ones.
“We have also been talking to other people and corporates that we can work with in order to formulate partnerships.”
While the organisation has not done much for the greater part of the year, the last quarter seems to have life.
They have already started applying for participation at various international festivals for next year and will be leaving for India in January to attend another festival.