Bulawayo Set for More Arts Groups as ZDDT Launches New Youth Empowerment Initiative

This has drawn interest from all parts of Bulawayo, and kick started this week at the western townships’ central White City Youth Arena.

In the first phase of the training which was conducted by one of Bulawayo’s renowned arts academies, Amazing Stars Arts Group, led by Forgiven Ndlovu, 5 of 29 wards attended.

The project aims to empower youth through the influential mediums of arts and drama and develop their appreciation for the values which will underpin a winning society.

According to Ndlovu, who is also involved in the training activities, the programme will take 26 weeks and this will also involve competitions between the arts groups and culminate in a prize giving ceremony.

“We are aiming at communicating with the community on the improvement of our livelihoods through Servant Leadership, community participation and ownership, anti-littering, health and other important issues through drama,” said Ndlovu.

Drama and live performances has the potential to also create employment whilst providing an activity for the community which will gather to attend shows.

According to ZDDT National Development Officer, Mr Simon Spooner, “Drama has become a part of day to day culture partly due to lack of entertainment and, as a result, the arts feature more strongly in people’s lives.

"This project will not only provide an activity for youth, but is also something of interest to the public. It is a useful medium in which to promote sound ideas and values and to help propel our society in the right direction.”  

More than three hundred youths and elders converged on the White City Youth Arena this week to see the new project get underway.