Ellen Mlambo

MIRROR REPORTER 

MASVINGO- Organiser of the Engaging Men and Boys Affected by Toxic Masculinity in Promoting and Preserving Culture through Entrepreneurship project is engaging schools as the project winds down. 
The project kicked off with facilitation and sponsorship from the Culture Fund and the European Union (EU) delegate of Zimbabwe. Its lifespan expires in March 2024. 
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Law student, certified civic leader and Trinity Charity Foundation founder Angela Maduro who is spearheading the project told The Mirror that the project is now targeting schools in peri-urban areas as Nemamwa and a few from Masvingo City. 
She said they are taking the initiative to the schools with some male artists as sculptors, basket weavers and painters they trained when the program began. 
“We are taking the project to the next level. We have engaged the artists that we trained and its now time for them to pass on their knowledge to schools pupils around Masvingo,particularly in rural areas.
“We held an art exhibition for the artists last year. The project also centred on engaging with artists to discuss the importance of cultural diversity and inclusion as well as introducing them to cultural entrepreneurship. We also engaged in mentorship sessions on how best men and boys can deal with toxic masculine norms,” she said. 
Maduro is carrying out the project with Kudakwashe Mutemachimwe a computer engineering graduate from Midlands State University (MSU). He is the project’s educator and events facilitator. Nyasha Makandise, another GZU law student is assisting with launching events and engaging with participants.
Mutemachimwe said that the thrust of taking the project to schools is to help identify children’s talent at an early age.
“Identifying children’s talents in artistic work at an earlier stage is vital as it contributes to societial advancement through creative ideas,” he said.