The project, which started last Saturday, is expected to continue every weekend for a year. According to Children’s Arts Trust director Edward Moroka, the event aims to give children a space to showcase their hidden talents and nurture them. He added that the arrangement is meant to expose kids with difficulty in academics to creative arts, to be able to develop their talents and excel. He said the Arts Education for Development program will be running for the entire period/year. He also said parents are expected to pay P200 per month.
“The activities include theatre, poetry, public speaking, kids talk show, music- piano, marimba, drums, and music. We will also produce productions for them to showcase to a live audience every three months. We will also offer them international exposure in festivals around the world. The program begins from three and above. Our event aims to prepare them to do better when growing up, as there is a saying, ‘Lore le ojwa le sale metsi’, as they learn fast,” he said. Furthermore, Moroka called on parents to allow their children to be part of Arts Education for Development, saying it would allow them to build their confidence in class or anywhere they present. He noted that looking for a job nowadays is a challenge; therefore, some kids or artists are employing themselves through their talents. He gave an example of the neighboring countries, saying their artists are doing well, adding that one child won lucrative prizes worth R500 000 that changed his family’s life forever.
