Giving Children a Voice Through Theatre
Giving Children a Voice Through Theatre eLangeni, January 2007 - Percy Maphanga knows children have something important to say. He knows this because he learns something from them everyday. Percy, 25, is the founder of a children’s theatre group in a community tucked under the highway, just outside the Swazi capital of Mbabane. He meets with the children and youth in the Club as often as he can, but at least every Saturday. “Every time I work with them, I learn new things,” says Percy. “I thought this was going to be about me teaching them something. But very often it’s more like they teach me.” In 2006 Percy sat in the audience at a drama festival near his home, watching children and youth sing, dance, and act. He saw the joy on the children’s faces as they performed and was inspired. “I thought, why not form a drama club? We could teach about HIV and other things, travel to other communities and perform. I had big ideas.” The drama festival was part of a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Swaziland Theatre for Children and Young People (SWATCYP) to raise awareness about children’s right to participation. The theatre programme trained one boy, one girl and one teacher at schools in targeted communities throughout the country. Caregivers at Neighbourhood Care Points, which cater to orphans and vulnerable children out of school, were also trained to reach children not attending school. All those who were trained in turn trained others on specific aspects of theatre. With assistance from the teachers and caregivers, children developed dramas of their own focused on either abuse, HIV and AIDS, or how schools can be turned into centres of care and support. Schools presented their dramas at local competitions and the winning performers went on to compete in a national competition. The programme was expanded with new partners and extended into 2007. Percy was able to fulfill his drama club dream with the help of SWATCYP. He attended a two-week training on drama, theatre and performance in early 2007. He came back to his community and brought children and young people together to form the drama club. “We talk about everything in the club, HIV, abstinence, abuse, what it’s like to be an orphan,” says Percy. “Everyone in the club, no matter their age, has been affected by HIV. The dramas are a way for us to deal with those things and to teach other people about them.” Percy is constantly jotting down new ideas for dramas; ideas he comes up with on his own and ideas he adapts from real life situations. “I come to the group to discuss my ideas and everyone contributes to make them better and make it into a script.” Everyone participates equally in the drama club, says Percy. Whether they are in primary school, high school, or not in school, all the members can express their ideas and be a part of the performances. “The Club shows that children have things to say,” says Percy. “But even more, it shows that we must listen to children. I know we educate people through our dramas. I can see that. I just wish more people would listen.”
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