26 Feb 2017

Poetavango in collaboration with the United States embassy have embarked on a four-week literary project dubbed My Botswana Storytelling Project, which aims to unearth creativity amongst school-going children.

The project targets a group of 20 learners from secondary schools in Maun, 15 from primary schools in Ghanzi and another 15 from secondary schools in Gaborone.

In an interview, one of the project presenters, Thuso Mafoko explained that the project sought to develop and improve students’ creative writing and story-telling through short stories.

He said the project was divided into three parts being Operation Pen and Paper, currently being done in Maun, Operation Voice and Microphone slated for Ghanzi and Literary TechShop to be conducted in Gaborone.

He said the Maun project provided learners with storytelling skills through creative writing while in Ghanzi, participants would learn the traditional forms of storytelling - the oral method.

The TechShop in Gaborone will explore Information Technology in relation to literature and the use of technology to enhance, promote and market one’s writings.

He said students would be taught to upload information, a project to be facilitated by Poetavango Collective in collaboration with The Clicking Generation.

Participating schools include Maun senior, Tshwaragano, Sedie, Moeti, Tsodilo and Maitlamo junior secondary schools.

Mafoko said they had selected the creative and those eager to learn for the project.

The participants will engage in a week long workshop covering poetry and storytelling, which at the end will see the production of a book and video.

He said the project launch would be in Maun while the grand finale would take place in Gaborone. ENDS