T.I.M.E. Launches Schools National Programme

The Talent Innovation Mentorship Exercise, T.I.M.E Project, in partnership with Gwanda high school successfully hosted a talent search and promotion initiative programme known as the Schools Creative Arts Drive, S.C.A.D. This first edition of S.C.A.D was held under the theme, “Amplifying Young People’s Voices Through Creative Arts”.

The event was held at Gwanda High School on 01 July 2022 where we were warmly welcomed by the Gwanda High School deputy headmistress, Bonisiwe Mlilo. Mlilo could not hide her excitement as she expressed so much gratitude for having joined hands with T.I.M.E project on a noble initiative like this one, the S.C.A.D.

The guest of honour at the S.C.A.D event, the Schools Inspector (SI) from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Uteng Jamela Sebata, praised the S.C.A.D organisers for coining a theme that is in line with the updated curriculum where the creative industry is expected to be highly recognized and taught in schools.

 “Only self-disciplined artists make it in life, any waywardness, the police will always be there to help create and maintain peace and happiness around the arts”, said Sebata. He referred to R Kelly who has been sentenced due to his abusive deeds on young girls, he cautioned and encouraged young people to act responsibly in the arts industry.

In his concluding remarks Sebata indicated areas that young people are expected to consider in as far as the creative industry is concerned, “Young people, your hidden voices can find leverage in the arts. Your salient talents can be sharpened here, your dreams of happy morrows can be made to come true through the arts. If you have an interest in arts, listen to your inner voice, the arts may be your lifeline. Hang on. You will get there, just hold on to your dreams. Just like our Zhezhingtons of Gwanda you can be great ambassadors, not only of Gwanda but Zimbabwe, our beautiful motherland”.

The Gwanda District Community Relations liaison officer from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, ZRP, Sgnt. Tapiwa Sibanda was one of the invited guests. He encouraged the participants to desist from illicit behaviour and unethical conduct that can lead them to prison.

Sibanda mentioned some of the areas that are prevalent among young people where many have been brought to discipline due to uncouth behaviours, such as drugs and substance abuse, a subject that he touched on in detail. The children were urged to be whistleblowers, report any issues of gender-based violence to responsible authorities at school or visit the nearest police station. He added that such reports will be treated with strict confidentiality to protect children from further abuse. Sibanda volunteered to be part of any similar project organized by TIME Project.  

One of the speakers at the S.C.A.D event, Reginald Vavashe, a businessman and a TIME Project Finance Administrator touched on the important aspect of the creative industry with a closer look at the business side. He encouraged the participants to ensure that whatever art they are involved in must be able to sustain them financially for better livelihoods.

The participants for the competition were drawn from the following Matabeleland South Province high schools and colleges; Sacred Heart, Gwanda High, Zezane High, Mtshabezi High, Cresta College, Minda High, Granduer College, Sunrise College. Pupils between the ages of 12 to 21 years were targeted for the S.C.A.D event.  The competitors battled it out in diverse art forms where their level of creativity was tested on four different art genres, Public Speaking, Poetry, Music and Drama with a close focus on these four sub themes;

(a) Drugs and Substance Abuse (DSA)

(b) Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

(c) Gender Based Violence (GBV)

(d) Climate Change and Environmental issues.

In their presentations all participants demonstrated a high level of academic and creative excellence and a commendable knowledge of the guiding subthemes that they were meant to abide to.

Confidence was all over, the presenters were of par excellence, quite eloquent that one wondered how they even managed to tackle a very abstract and scientific subject on climate change with so much ease when even journalists fail to demystify this filed of climate change for the general populace to understand. That was one area where invited guests were particularly overwhelmed by the brilliant presentations they displayed. The eloquent and vibrant presentations displayed are a clear testimony that indeed the children are a marvel to our province and beyond. 

Speaking to T.I.M.E Project founder, Adrian ‘Drivo’ Musa, he indicates that they surely take pride in grooming and nurturing such young talents who are not only exceptional in academic work but also show a huge potential to flourish in the creative industry as heavy creatives and think tanks.  He also highlighted how pertinent it is to raise awareness of crucial areas that have an impact on young people, he believes that creativity plays a big role in informing, educating as well as entertaining people, hence the powerful themes they selected in moulding these young people.

The T.I.M.E Project was established ‘to promote sustainable creative arts industries in Matabeleland South Province in Zimbabwe’ and this event is one of the noteworthy projects that they offer.

“As we are launching this initiative, we are complimenting government’s effort in the introduction of the new curriculum syllabus which will enable creative arts to be taught in schools, at the same time we would like to engage young people to amplify their voices in information dissemination and sharing of various issues that concern them using the creative arts as a viable medium of communication”, says Drivo.

Adrian mentions that a series of skills training workshops for students will be conducted once every school term in a coordinated approach in partnership and collaboration with different organisations, institutions and individuals within the creative arts sector.

T.I.M.E Project has indeed boarded on a very long journey that we believe has a great potential to spread to all parts of the country, ‘Amplyifing Young People’s Voices Through Creative Arts’ before it becomes an international arts drive, with a close focus on school going children.

We had a crowd thriller performance from Lollies Pre-School who graced this special ceremony as they left us in awe asking for more of their bright performance. They are truly destined for greatness in as far as creativity is concerned. Mrs Noble, the Lollies Preschool Founder looks forward to work with T.I.M.E Project in future projects on the creative industry to uplift the little ones as they showcase their talents. She was overwhelmed by the way the whole function was executed, excellently.

The event was also graced by our legendary music gurus, the multi award winning musicians who have set a good example to emerging artists from our province and beyond. The hall was lit up as these artists took turns on stage showing us what they are known for as arts fanatics and trendsetters in the arts industry, these were Bry Eze, Zhezhingtons, Zagoe Radge and DJ Black Operator.

‘As the Rainbow Province Creatives Private Limited, the publishers of the Creatives Magazine, we were honoured to be part of this historical event as one of the first edition supporters of this great arts drive”, says the founder, Sithokozile Sibanda who handed a token of appreciation to the guest of honour, Uteng Jamela Sebata.  

A carefully selected decision team was made up of the following individuals with vast experience in the creative and cultural industry; Mr S.Nkomo (Creative entrepreneur),Mr P Dube (programs officer Min of Youth, Sports Arts and Recreation), S.Nkala (Lecturer at the Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo polytechnic college.

They adjudicators considered the following judgement areas from the delivered presentations, introduction, theme, creativity, voice projection/delivery, stage management, costumes/attire, originality, presentation coordination, story line and the overall impression.

The following are the results of the S.C.A.D competition;

Public speaking

1. Sacred Heart
2. Gwanda High
3. Zezane High
4. Mtshabezi High
5. Cresta College
6. Minda High
7. Granduer College
8. Sunrise College

Poetry

1. Gwanda High
2. Sacred Heart
3. Mtshabezi High
4. Cresta College
5. Minda High
6. Zezane High
7. Sunrise College
8. Granduer College

Drama

1. Sacred Heart
2. Gwanda High
3. Zezane High
4. Minda High
5. Cresta College
6. Mtshabezi High
7. Sunrise College
8. Granduer College

Music

1. Mtshabezi High
2. Minda High
3. Zezane High
4. Cresta College
5. Gwanda High
6. Minda High
7. Sunrise College
8. Granduer College

S.C.A.D Individual awards: Outstanding Male and female

Public Speaking

Ndumiso Sibanda (M) Cresta College

Lomaswati Ncube (F) Minda High

Poetry

Emmanuel Mkandla (M) Cresta College

Siphilisiwe Ndlovu (F) Gwanda High

Music

Nesisa Msipa (F) Mtshabezi High

Emmanuel Mkandla (M) Cresta College

Drama

Lini Chisale (F) Sacred Heart

Samuel Mangena (M) Gwanda High

In his concluding remarks, the S.C.A.D programme mastermind and Executive Director of T.I.M.E project, Adrian ‘Drivo’ Musa explains his future plans; “Now that S.C.A.D has been launched, we look forward to partner with the Ministry of Education where we shall have S.C.A.D Provincial competitions across all the 10 Provinces of the country and all the provincial winners then converge at the National Finals to be held under the Gwanda Annual Festival of Arts,  G.A.F.A in Gwanda.