Young people from Hatcliffe, Mbare, Epworth and surrounding communities will converge at Hatcliffe 3 Primary School on Friday for the eighth edition of the House of Arts (HA) Festival, with organisers promising a powerful platform that combines creativity, entrepreneurship and advocacy.
Running under the theme “Amplifying Youth Voices,” the annual festival seeks to use the arts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges affecting young Zimbabweans, including drug and substance abuse, mental health, sexual and reproductive health rights, climate change, unemployment and gender based violence.
Organised by the youth led House of Arts Association (HAA), the festival has grown into one of the organisation’s flagship initiatives, bringing together artists, entrepreneurs, government departments, civic organisations and development partners.
This year’s programme will feature music, dance, spoken word, poetry and visual arts alongside exhibitions by young entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for participants to market products, network and engage potential partners.
Government ministries, the City of Harare, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the National AIDS Council and several youth organisations are expected to participate through exhibitions, information sharing sessions and interactive discussions.
Mental health awareness, drug and substance abuse prevention, skills development, climate change and youth empowerment will form the core of the day’s engagements, with presentations from government agencies and development organisations complementing artistic performances.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume is expected to officially welcome delegates, while the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Senator Charles Tawengwa, will be the guest of honour.
Organisers said the festival has evolved beyond an arts showcase into a community development platform that empowers young people economically while giving them direct access to policymakers and service providers.
