Ndau Festival of the Arts inclusive of the disabled
By Mendy Mandirahwe
THERE are exciting developments happening in Chipinge with regards to inclusivity of the People With Disabilities (PWDs).
Ndau Festival of the Arts (NdaFA) whose base is at Paiyapo Heritage and Arts Development Centre, Bangira Village, Chikore in Chipinge is promoting arts for the disabled after incorporating Big Tree Primary School learners who have physical challenges.
In its pilot project, NdaFA introduced fine art to the learners with disabilities.
In the second phase of it project; the children with disabilities are undergoing mbira lessons following a donation of mbira instruments to the school.
Ndau Festival of the Arts received a donation of four mbira instruments, two from an arts organisation named CHIPAWO in Harare and the other duo from a seasoned artiste and teacher named Ticha Muzavazi.
Speaking to this publication, the chairman and director for Ndau Festival of the Arts, Mr Phillip Kusasa said that Children With Disabilities need to given platform to showcase their talent.
“Children With Disabilities are also talented but what might be lacking is the issue of inclusivity. Once People With Disabilities are given platform, we can see that they can expose their talent.
“This is just a pilot project but we need to do more of such for the whole of Chipinge district,” said Mr Kusasa.
The Big Tree learners with disabilities also received a donation of sewing machine from a development partner, Light House.