Amazing Stars Arts Academy needs our help
BULAWAYO – Watching some youngsters’ nimble-footed moves across the dance floor the other day brought back memories from the famous 1970’s Tina Charles “Boogie” song. Indeed, just taking it all in gave a new significance to the song’s words. Yes these kids can really boogie!
The youths (five females and five males) from the Amazing Stars Arts Academy (ASAA) dance troupe were demonstrating a range of delightfully deft moves. These kids literally dance for their supper. You see, they practically help support themselves and their families from proceeds earned through entertainment contracts they receive from organisations, institutions businesses and members of the public. A substantial portion of these proceeds also goes towards enabling two of the group’s female members to complete their education at A-Level, with the possibility of going on to university. However, the money realised from successful contracts falls far short of this and other essential needs at the Academy.
Running ASAA on the meagre earnings of a few contracts is proving to be a mammoth task for Academy Director, Mr. Forgiven Ndlovu and his management committee. Rentals for their operational premises, travel, accommodation and catering costs for touring members is just a little slice of the expenses to be considered and this is besides the school fees for the two lasses previously referred to.
Home to Amazing Stars Arts Academy is Pelandaba Township in the City’s ward 13 which falls under the most able leadership of Cllr. Lot Siziba. The Township at its inception in the 1950’s was intended as a housing estate for a middle income populace. However due to deteriorating conditions brought about by several factors over the intervening years, it has gradually become a low income neighbourhood, similar to areas surrounding it. The appalling levels of poverty in this and indeed every other Township, has to be seen to be believed. It is under such trying conditions that Mr. Ndlovu and his team are forced to eke out a living.
Amazing Stars Arts Academy is comprised of a group of dedicated youths, who through theatre and arts programmes, aim to empower their peers in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Through its founding concept, the institution, in the words of director, Mr. Ndlovu, “Seeks through gainful activities to afford youngsters in townships an opportunity to improve the quality of their lives, thus keeping them away from engaging in undesirable practices.”
The group operates from Siziba Youth Centre (named after the incumbent) which they lease at a nominal fee from the City Council. At the Centre, budding artistes from within the ward and further afield are trained in various entertainment disciplines. In order to raise funds for operating costs, ASAA management is compelled to charge a small fee for each trainee, some of whom are so disadvantaged, they are unable to pay their dues. But as was mentioned earlier, the youths are exceptionally talented and it would indeed be most unfortunate for them and the community as a whole should such endowment be permitted to fall into waste.
Mr. Ndlovu pointed out that as a means to assist these youngsters and adequately meet the Academy’s running costs, ventures into poultry and piggery rearing were being considered by his institution. He added that plans for the establishment of a market garden were at an advanced stage. Mr. Ndlovu regretted that in order for these plans to become a reality, working capital would essentially be needed; a commodity that, he remarks, under current circumstances unfortunately remains out of ASAA’s reach.
Making a truly heartfelt plea at the interview’s end, Mr. Ndlovu begged willing donors to at least witness for themselves, the dire plight of youths at the Academy. He urged potential funders not to abandon these gifted young people to a life of abject poverty or to the possibility that some of them could slide into criminal existences.
Amazing Stars Arts Academy is properly constituted and registered with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, as well as with the regional Mthwakazi Performing Arts Association.
Readers wishing to assist may send their contribution to: The Amazing Stars Arts Academy: care of:
The Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT),
12A Park Road, Suburbs. BULAWAYO. ZIMBABWE.
Telephone: +263 9 232616. Email: