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Many teenagers agree with the Kenyan proverb that creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life. Of course imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire. This is the story at Bindura SOS children’s village where children are taking arts to the next level and getting paid for it.
The village which is a brain child of the late Hermann Gmeiner who formed the organisation in Imst Austria in 1949 saw many orphans and homeless children being taken care off at the centre.
If you put children under one roof for a long time, what do you get? Play! “I have been here at the centre since 2011 and I am happy that I have found my inner self. Yes I am an artist and it is time that we take centre stage,” said Tanyaradzwa (16).
Tanyaradzwa is a drummer who could make the popular Jerusalem hit drummer of the ZBC TV news bulletin green with envy as he knows his pace. The Village has it all. From hip-hop, sungura, contemporary to modern dances, the teen stars in the making know what they do.
No wonder why when they hit Harare during the CHIPAWO events, they take the lead as they are serious.
SOS Children’s Village Bindura is home to 146 orphans and vulnerable children housed in 15 SOS Family houses. SOS Children’s Village provides educational activities ranging from sporting, cultural and academic activities. Outside school work the children are involved in income generating projects such as bee-keeping and poultry.
To date, just like Disneyland who housed Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears among others during their talent search, SOS has a silver lining also despite being a shanty town.
The centre has achieved so much, with Farai Mbizi, Gamuchirai Mukwakwami, Faith Mtwana, Enersi Rueben, Martha Saidi participating in international festivals, such as the carnival in Zambia, Germany, Denmark and Malawi.
Indeed it is the catch them young concept as children who are dominating are infants and primary school children.
Gamuchirai Mukwakwami another beneficiary said she has learnt much from the village and will go a long way in developing her chosen career of acting and dancing.
“Arts is life,” she said.
Online Reporter