adminReckson Mandizvidza Entertainment Reporter
Visual artist Manners Mukuwiri has embarked on a noble recycling campaign through teaching youths to enjoy the arts with the environment in mind.
Operating under the motto “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle: We Do Art with the Environment in Mind” Mukuwiri, who co-owns Nature’s Hope Recycling Arts, is working with youths to create art pieces from litter.
Mukuwiri specialises in tin recycling which ensures the artists are never short of raw materials as they beverage cans which are almost everywhere.
Mukuwiri who has been in the trade for close to a decade said art has become part of his life and he roped in youths so that they learn the trade.
“I have been sustaining myself from the art and I decided to enrol youths to teach them the trade because many of them are just idling with virtually nothing to do especially over the weekends, for those who still go to school.
They can have a few extra dollars from the trade,” he said.
“We can do ourselves something positive through recycling and get rewarded financially. Passing that knowledge to the youths would help in the long run.
“Above all, jobs are hard to come by these days and it will really come in handy as the youths will not just sit back and wait for someone to employ them when they finish their academic studies,” he said.
The Chitungwiza-based artist is mainly concerned about creativity rather than on acquiring raw materials and a glimpse of the artist’s products shows that Zimbabwean youths are truly talented.
Old tin cans are transformed into beautiful creations depicting wild animals, huts, trees, humans and many other fascinating ornaments which can be displayed in homes, offices or any other place to improve beauty.
Mukuwiri is currently tutoring five students from nearby schools who are getting to understand the trade while helping clean the environment with garbage reduction.
Online Reporter