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Meluleki Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
HERE we are folks. Remember that method of human communication which was once rejected by many and dismissed as the Queen’s language? Well, the same English has now become a minors’ dissectible dialect in the city of Kings and Queens!
This manifested at the Hope for a Child in Christ (HOCIC) English Access MicroScholarship Programme certification event held at the Art Gallery on Thursday.
The English Access MicroScholarship Programme has three units of 40 pupils, each with 20 females and 20 males. It provides a foundation of English language skills for 14 to 18-year-old pupils with the objective of developing critical thinking, confidence building, career guidance and developing a culture of giving back to respective communities.
Tapping from the apparently just earned self-worth and confidence while flaunting articulation and eloquence, the young speakers drawn from the high density schools joined hands in demystifying the “dark continent” concept among other retrogressive issues. Of note were Sharon Dube from Sikhulile High, Pumula High’s Trish Josh and Luveve High’s Makhosonke Ndebele who urged Africa to rise in a powerful poem titled, “Arise Africa, arise”.
Then came the emotional, heartbreaking moment when alumni, Ayanda Sibanda an Upper Six pupil at Amhlophe High took to the podium.
Describing herself as an oddity, a freak of nature and a biological abnormality, Ayanda narrated how she realised her potential at the hands of HOCIC:
“HOCIC taught me to be an ambassador in addressing minority issues as important and break stereotypes about what constitutes true African beauty.
This gave me courage to pursue my dream, landing me in an agency called Open Eye, one of the best modelling agencies in Zimbabwe”, said the star public speaker with albinism.
Speaking on the sidelines of the colourful event, HOCIC Director, Ms Sunga Mzeche attributed their mission to compassion.
“With the assistance of teachers particularly in the western schools, we target underprivileged children with ability. The selected few then go through training in a programme undertaken after school and on weekends for two years. Our students learn English in practical ways through debate, public speaking and drama, among other exercises.
“They are also subjected to exposure visits and community service where they visit old people and children’s homes”, she said.
Founded on the backdrop of a call by the Government for a multi-sectoral approach to the plights affecting the generality of Zimbabweans, HOCIC was established by a group of churches in 1995. Over the years, the organisation has revolved and is now implementing livelihoods, child protection and empowerment programmes for vulnerable communities and marginalised groups with the main focus on women, youth, children and people with disabilities.
In 2017, Pan African Youth Leadership essay winners Anne Gwishiri, Mzimkhulu Mbele, Nkosiyapha Mpande and Rachel Mabvurunge toured the United States of America, where they gained more ideas on good and exemplary leadership.-@Melutainment
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