“The United Methodist Church is impacting positivity…” said the 19-year old Kundai Chabvonga who is the current Junior Governor for Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe towards the close of the 2012 UMPSSA (United Methodist Primary and Secondary Schools Association) Talent Show held at Nyadire Mission which brought together pupils from United Methodist mission schools. Kundai is an A-Level student at Nyamuzuwe High School.
The Talent search program run by the Director of the Young People’s Ministries Rev. Sekai Pfupa together with school heads, has become an annual event. The initiative is a consolidation of previous efforts by UMPSSA (United Methodist Primary School Sports Association) which began bringing the young people together as early as 1996. The focus back then had been on quiz, public speaking, ball games and athletics. More disciplines now make up the program—choreography, music, art and modelling.
“Each one of us must never despise the talents that are endowed by God upon our lives…but put them to good use.” said Nyadire Schools and hospital Chaplin Rev. Nyaradzai Matonga at the opening of the Talent Show.
The Guest of Honour Mrs. Rosemary Nyarugwe the Acting Principal of Nyadire Teachers’ College added her voice in encouraging the productive use of talents as it brings about “creative imagination” in young people. She noted as key the celebration of the Talent Show by UMC Schools within the Culture Week which began on the 18th of May 2013. “It has been noted that culture and art have been in school curriculums hence its renewal and resuscitation…”. She applauded the organisers for recognizing the diverse talents within the future leaders.
The primary schools battled it our in a number of disciplines; music, public speaking (Education), Drama (Future with hope), modelling, quiz, chess and ball games.
Both groups exploded in dance during their interludes—Nyadire Central Primary School provided Jah Prayzah’s Tsviriyo using traditional instruments at the Primary schools event while the Nyadire High School became a bash for contemporary music genres and dances for the seniors.
At the outset of the 2009-12 Quadrennium the church in Zimbabwe built all its programs within the scope of the four areas of focus—developing principled leaders, developing vibrant congregation, global health and poverty alleviation. These areas of focus came out clearly as the young people showcased their talent.
The presence of Kundai Chabvonga the Junior Governor and the 15-year old Mutoko Senator Chido Chivaura a form 4 student at Nyadire high school is testimony of how UMC institutions are developing young people into great leaders. The two gave credit to the church for coming up with various programs that are relevant to the development of young people. Both spoke with charisma at the event.
For Chido Chivauro who is excited that as a girl child she is able to represent the student constituency in Mutoko as a senator, “Leaders are required to be motivational, thus must have the internal and external factors which stimulate people to take action which lead to achieving goals”. Kundai Chabvonga added by saying, “The governance at a local level must never be poor of ideas and visions”.
The two called on the young people to involve themselves in their church and national issues.
“We must let our voices be heard because mostly as Africans our voices are not heard and it appears it is not in us to speak—we suffer in silence” said Chido putting into perspective the plight of the Africa young people and the girl child in particular.
More young people alternated the stage showing the prowess in speech making in areas of Health, Leadership and Poverty Alleviation. The audience made of their peers, and teachers stood in awe at the level of ideas and concepts springing from the minds of these youths. The adjudicators had even the most terrible task of separating the winners.
Below are the few ideas on poverty alleviation;
“Poverty is a state of mind of the leaders”
“Poverty is caused by lack of ideas on how to improve livelihood”
“Educate the girl child and you have taken the bull by its horn”
“Education is the vaccine to poverty”
The prize-giving ceremony had both tears of excitement and those of despair as schools got their turns in receiving awards. Most young people are looking forward to the 2014 edition, but would rather have it on a Friday and Saturday.