Millicent Chasinda
TWELVE high schools came together in a poetry competition to raise awareness on child abuse and early marriages last week.
The provincial competition held in Masvingo featured Irene Christian College, Emmanuel High School, Pamushana High, Victoria High, Ndarama High, Silveira High, Berejena High, Masvingo Christian College and Chibi High.
In an interview, High Schools Debate convener and co-founder National Marwa said:
“We had poetry competitions in Masvingo under the theme ‘Tears of an Abused Child’ with the aim to educate children on the effects of child abuse using the child-centred learning approach.
“The competition was an attempt by the organisation to listen to the children while they make their submissions on their daily experiences with victims of abuse.”
Marwa said they are going to have a national competition on November 27 at Prince Edward High School.
“Winners will get prizes including stationery, cash prizes, laptops and smartphones.
“We also hope to source scholarships for talented poets from disadvantaged families and we intend to have Pan African poetry competitions in Togo in December.”
He said the aim of these competitions are to help victims of abuse and raise awareness.
“We are highlighting the effects of child abuse and how to respond to abuse.
“We are also raising awareness on how to help a victim of abuse.
“Children’s voices, in these events, will draw the attention of various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education and law enforcement agencies, together with the international community, to put in place measures that ensure the safety of children in the society.”