Baffling artists at BAFA

In Harare, Zimbabwe, during the BAFA (Buddyz Annual Festival of Arts) festival from 22 till 25th of October 2009, Volens showcased several of the creative arts tools that allow for counselling on specific issues for orphans and vulnerable children.

BAFA is a yearly festival that aims at bringing together organisations, artists and donors to promote socially committed arts. Though much was focussed on HIV/AIDS, the Volens network for community support to orphans had its own designated corner with documentation material and the screening of the short presentation videos. A total of 115 participants took part in activities like puppetry, poetry, hip hop, acrobatics and capoeira, followed by counselling sessions afterwards.

A session of Theatre for Healing was done with Incarcerated Artists, a group of over 30 artists that are promoting arts in prison. In total, over 20 artists expressed the desire to be involved in the programme and take over ideas.

Though the festival did not reach its potential of audience because of poor marketing, it was still a great learning experience for the Volens team, the artists that performed and counsellors from the partner organisations that facilitated several sessions. And it of course provided meaningful fun moments for participants, old and young alike.