What does CHIPAWO mean?

CHIPAWO is a Shona word which means "please give" or "give also". CHIPAWO is therefore all about sharing what you’ve got with others.

What we do?

Children from age 4 and youth up to age 25 learn to sing, dance, play music, act, make videos and television programmes and work together, communicate, gain confidence, build through criticism and so much more - in short, arts education for development and employment. Through the arts, CHIPAWO is able to address the key issues that concern the welfare and development of children.

Why?

1. So that we all know and appreciate our own culture - Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, Africa.
2. So that through the arts our children learn, develop and grow up as balanced, harmonious, whole human beings who in turn help to make a balanced, harmonious, whole society.
3. So that our children enrich and improve the performing arts of our country and in many cases find fulfilling employment in the arts and related fields
   

Where?

Children in CHIPAWO attend CHIPAWO at their schools or creches during the week or at selected centres during the weekend. CHIPAWO reaches children directly at CHIPAWO centres, some of which are fee-paying and others bursary centres. At a CHIPAWO bursary centre CHIPAWO sources funds so that children who cannot pay can attend CHIPAWO. In other centres CHIPAWO signs a contract with the institution to provide an arts education programme.  In yet others CHIPAWO arts educators only teach selected performing arts eg. marimba. CHIPAWO Centres are currently to be found in Bindura, Chitungwiza, Domboshawa, Harare and Norton. CHIPAWO has also assisted communities all over Zimbabwe to open and run their own CHIPAWO model centres.

What Do We Believe In?

• Knowing and treasuring our own culture
• The child at the centre
• Creativity, originality, versatility
• Dynamic and democratic learning
• Every child is precious - boy/girl, rich/poor, town/country, able/disabled
•  
  

How did we begin?

CHIPAWO was founded in 1989 in Harare, Zimbabwe, by Stephen Chifunyise, playwright and civil servant, Farai Gezi, music educationist and musician, Julie Frederikse, well-known author and Robert McLaren, academic, writer and theatre practitioner.

The principles and goals of the UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD are the principles and goals of CHIPAWO .