REPORT ON SPEAKER/SPECIALIST NTARE MWINE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 000663 SIPDIS FOR IIP/AF; IIP/P; AF/PD; AF/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO OEXC SCUL KHIV BC SUBJECT: REPORT ON SPEAKER/SPECIALIST NTARE MWINE ¶1. SUMMARY: Mr. Ntare Mwine, an Ugandan-born American playwright, film-maker and actor, worked with PAS Gaborone on a program on HIV/AIDS advocacy from June 15-20. Mwine reviewed the theatre pieces that directors from the local NGO Youth Health Organization (YOHO) had produced since a previous workshop he conducted with them in June 2007. The revised pieces were used to introduce a total of thirty participants to film production. END SUMMARY. ¶2. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM: Ntare Mwine conducted a week-long workshop in Botswana from June 15-20. This was a follow-up to a June 2007 program he conducted in Botswana on the same topic. The purpose of Mwine's second visit to Botswana was 1) to review the progress made by Youth Health Organization (YOHO) theatre directors in creativity and performances of their HIV/AIDS related messages since the previous workshop; 2) to advise the directors on how best to target messages to their audiences; and 3) to reach out to both out-of-school and in-school youth during the commemorations of the "Day of the African Child," June 16th. ¶3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The program began with 20 participants from the previous workshop showing their solo theater pieces to recap the styles and skills they had learned from Mwine in June 2007. Participants shared feedback on the performances, discussed ways the pieces could be improved, and also talked about visualizing the messages targeted to the audience. Discussions were held about how to balance HIV/AIDS messages with dramatization: creativity balanced with conflict, setting and hope. During the first afternoon, the performances were taken to the streets and shopping malls of Letlhakane to test how a live audience would respond to the presentations. The performances attracted adults and kids alike. For the next three days, the workshop began with a summary of the previous day, and making improvements on the pieces. Improved performance pieces were then developed into scenes for film production. Participants took turns to take different responsibilities in the production, ranging from recording audio and pictures and setting scenes. Participants had to look for suitable settings in the street, shopping area, school grounds and forest to shoot different parts of their scenes. Shooting of scenes took two days, with reviews in between resulting in adding missing links of ;the creativity. In addition to the workshop activities, participants were invited to perform at local schools for the commemoration of "The Day of the African Child" and the launch of a film that YOHO had independently produced on DVD called "The Flower." Each time the workshop participants performed for various audiences, their works always displayed polished creativity. ¶4. TIME FRAME: The program took place from June 15-20 overlapping with commemorations for "The Day of an African Child," June 16th. It was on June 16, 1976 when South-African black children were killed in large numbers in protest of the apartheid regime. Since then, this day has been celebrated both in South Africa and neighboring countries, including Botswana. ¶5. PROGRAM IMPACT AND RESULTS: During this program, Mwine reached out to at least 1000 students aged between 12 and 18 years of age that participated in the commemorations of "The Day of the African Child." Over 500 spectators also observed the performances during road shows conducted in the malls and road sides of Letlhakane. Both youth in-school and out-of-school ranging from 8-35 years of age were reached, together with adults. Twenty theater directors from the 2007 workshop participated again, and were joined by ten new directors for this workshop. The capacity of YOHO's theatre production has therefore been increased, and participants came from across six regions of Botswana. Immediate outcomes of the program include a film produced during the workshop and the skills gained by those who had roles in casting characters, creating sets, and capturing audio and video for the recording of the dramatization. Moreover, lead YOHO directors were in the process of publishing a theatre manual that will guide them in the creation of their works. Mwine's presence was an opportune time for them to have him review the manual and provide a professional blessing to publish the manual during 2009. ¶6. MEDIA COVERAGE: Since the proram with Mwine was not in Gaborone but took plac in the city of Letlhakane, four hours away from te capital, media coverage was only possible at te end of the program. Mwine was interviewed liv on government-owned television station "Btv" and he also appeared in "Mmegi", an independent daily newspaper. ¶7. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPEAKER: Mwine is a great facilitator in theatre and film. He is well experienced in the field and passionate about the subject matter. However, a written workshop plan would assist a passionate and energetic facilitator like Mwine in ensuring that he maintains interest of his participants throughout, and keep them at the same level of comprehension. GABORONE 00000663 002 OF 002 ¶8. IIP SUPPORT: Post appreciates and thanks IIP/S/V through Stacey Rose-Blass for being very supportive from start to finish of this program. We look forward to future collaborations in an effort to reach Botswana youth through the arts. HAMILTON