By
Andrew Mulenga
The Amos
Youth Centre (AYC), a leading educational non-profit organization with a focus
on supporting disadvantaged children and youth based in Kafue recently added an
art initiative to their many learning programmes.
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| Acting Kafue District Commissioner Ngoni Moyo during the launch of AYC Art Programme |
The
centre, which is located in Shikoswe Township, has various programs among them
a feeding programme, computer tuitions, a spelling bee, chess, JETS, poetry,
drama, and culture clubs. The new art programme is being supported by ArtSPROUTS an international organisation
that facilitates after school program that fosters education and appreciation
for the arts, and provides tools for creative self-expression and leadership.
Officiating
at the launch, guest of honour Kafue acting District Commissioner Ngoni Moyo
expressed excitement at the private initiative stating it was in line with government’s
effort to prioritize the reach of art and culture throughout the country.
“Our
government has come with career paths in secondary schools so that more
children have access to skills in art and other fields,” he said.
He added
that government has observed that it is time to show commitment towards
developing an art sector and market Zambia to enhance economic empowerment for
the youths, stressing that in the hands of children and the youth, art can
create a lifetime advantage to communities the Zambian nation and the African
region at large.
 |
| Actors from the Amos Youth Centre perform a play that promotes art awareness |
“Access
to arts at a young age creates our future architects, engineers, artists, industrial
designers, art historians, graphic designers and cultural representatives”, he
said.
Moyo declared
that the vision of the government in promoting art and culture has also been
echoed in the Patriotic Front party’s manifesto on page 26 stating the desire
to encourage public and private investment in the development of arts and
culture infrastructure in cities, towns and villages.
Speaking
at the same event AYC Director Frederick Kamanya said the addition of the arts in
conjunction with artSprouts
encompasses the centre’s holistic approach in respect of education. He went on
to elaborate on many more of the AYC’s projects, with particular emphasis on
its long running scholarship programme.
“Another
important aspect of our work is the Sponsorship program. It started in 2007
when Amos sponsored 25 secondary school pupils. Every year since then, the
number of beneficiaries has increased. For the 2016 school year, 193 of Amos
most vulnerable members have received a sponsorship to attend various secondary
schools. Also 38 students are attending universities and colleges around Zambia”,
said Kamanya.
And artSprouts Executive Director Mila
Shelehoff underlined that during the first two weeks of operations, her
organisation will engage in hands-on teacher training and Amos Youth Centre
staff and student teachers will have learned how to nurture student's artistic
abilities and help them appreciate art. |
| Young artists display a collaborative piece during the launch of the Amos Youth Centre art programme |
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