Vusumuzi Dube recently in Manama
THE power of collaboration between the media, Government, schools and the private sector is opening new opportunities for young people, with Zimpapers extending its Junior Media Club initiative to 17 schools in Gwanda South, Matabeleland South Province.
The programme, which seeks to nurture young talent and equip learners with practical media and communication skills, was launched at Manama High School last Thursday under the theme,
“Catch Them Young — Empowering the Next Generation”.
Beyond media training, the initiative is bringing together different stakeholders to support education, entrepreneurship, environmental conservation and community development, demonstrating how partnerships can help address challenges facing schools and rural communities.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Omphile Marupi challenged learners to become responsible communicators and use their talents to inform, educate and inspire society.
He said the initiative would expose learners to journalism, creative writing, public speaking, photography, digital content creation and storytelling, skills that promote confidence, leadership, creativity and critical thinking.
“The Junior Media Club is therefore a timely and important initiative. It provides learners with exposure to journalism, creative writing, public speaking, photography, digital content creation and storytelling.
“These are skills that build confidence, leadership, creativity and critical thinking,” he said.
Dr Marupi commended Zimpapers and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for partnering to nurture young talent and create opportunities for learners to acquire practical skills that would prepare them for the future.
He said in an increasingly information-driven world, young people needed to understand how to use information responsibly, critically and ethically.
“To the learners gathered here today, this club is your opportunity to discover your talents and sharpen your voice. Every community has stories that deserve to be told. Every school has achievements worth celebrating.
“Through this platform, you will learn how to tell those stories accurately, responsibly and professionally,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said the programme complemented Government’s efforts to empower young people through education, innovation and skills development, while the Careers Day component would expose learners to different professions and help them make informed career choices.
Speaking on behalf of Zimpapers chief executive officer Mr William Chikoto, the group’s Intake Editor and Zimpapers Training Institute acting principal, Dr Limukani Ncube, said the Junior Media Club was part of the media house’s commitment to investing in communities and developing the next generation.
He said the initiative, established in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, sought to transform learners from passive consumers of media into informed, creative and responsible content producers.
“Our philosophy is simply to take the newsroom into the classroom and bring the classroom into the newsroom. We want learners to understand how newspapers are produced, how radio programmes are presented, how television content is created and how digital platforms have transformed communication,” said Dr Ncube.
He said the Manama launch was part of a growing national programme that had already been established in Bulawayo, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Harare.
The long-term objective, he said, was to establish a national network of school-based media clubs, ensuring that learners across the country had access to media education, mentorship and opportunities to showcase their talents.
Under the programme, learners will receive practical training in print and digital journalism, broadcasting, photography, videography, podcasting, multimedia production, graphic design and editing.
Zimpapers journalists, editors, photographers and broadcasters will share their professional experience through workshops, demonstrations, assignments and mentorship.
Dr Marupi committed that next year there would be cluster launches of the Junior Media Club at each of the participating schools, extending the programme’s reach to more learners.
The collaborative spirit behind the initiative was also reflected in a range of donations made to support schools and community development projects.
Zimpapers, working with its partners, facilitated the donation of 200 Road Runner chicks through the Zimbabwe Free Range Poultry Association, headed by Ms Beauty Jiji, while Nyaradzo, through its Friends of the Environment (FOTE) initiative, provided fruit trees.
Masters Paint and Hardware partnered in the donation of two JoJo water storage tanks and drip irrigation pipes, while Mr Noko of Sunset Marketing donated 1 000 chicks.
Typocrafters, a Zimpapers subsidiary, provided 3 200 exercise books, while Safety People Fire Engineers, owned by former Manama High School learner Mr Buhlebenkosi Lusinga, donated two fire extinguishers.
The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, school heads, traditional leaders, local authority representatives, parents, teachers and Zimpapers officials.
