Langalakhe Mabena
CATCHING them young, watching them grow, is the power of early childhood development which emphasizes the importance of a child’s formative years and how whatever happens at this early stage has a bearing in a child’s later years.
Against such a particular background, Gwanda-based Edu Foundation Trust has partnered China-based young Zimbabwean author Nqobizwe Malinga by creating a platform meant to familiarise young pupils with reading in English through a workshop that will be held in Matabeleland South’s provincial capital on Saturday.
Twenty-four pupils from different schools in Matabeleland South are expected to gather at St Christopher Primary School for the reading workshop.
Apart from reading, other activities such as playing games, quiz, a Rubik cube training will take place at an event where Hlelani Ngwenya, a language instructor and qualified English teacher from Bulawayo and the director of Edu Foundation Sikholiwe Sibanda will be coordinators.
Speaking from his base in China, Malinga (24), a former Luveve High School pupil who is also a TEFL certified language instructor, said the vision of the workshop was to create a culture and love for reading among children.
He also said that they were expecting the initiative to grow out of Gwanda and be held in other parts of Zimbabwe so as to grant equal access to their activities to as many children as possible.
“The vision of the workshop is to create a culture and love for reading among children, especially the vulnerable ones. Since this will be a recurring event, we hope to nurture young talent and put the spotlight even on the marginalised societies.
“About twenty-four children from surrounding areas of Mt Cazalet and Blanket Mine are expected to attend the event at St Christopher Primary school. Gwanda has been a starting point since Edu Foundation Trust is based there and has a number of beneficiaries already. But in the long run, possibly in the coming months, we will be holding more kids’ workshops around Bulawayo, Harare and other Zimbabwean communities,” said Malinga.
Early this year, Malinga ventured into juvenile literature by publishing a book titled When The Sun Sets.
The book is a children’s story that tries to introduce the concept of death and dealing with a loss of a beloved one and fear to young readers from middle childhood to early adolescence.
He wrote the book as a way of helping children (orphans) to be able to deal with death in a positive way that will enable them to heal from their loss.
The book will be used as a reference reading book at the workshop.
