UK charity rolls out arts lessons

United Kingdom (UK)–based charity Anno’s Africa has embarked on a project to equip primary school learners in the country with various arts skills.

So far, the charity has reached Nkondezi and Kalambwe primary schools in Nkhata Bay.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, the organisation’s director Bee Gilbert said the initiative aims at building arts skills in children.

In Africa, Malawi will be second to Kenya to benefit from this creative arts and education charity.

“We started in Kenya and the successes are many to mention. We are now in Malawi, we want to grow the skills of drama, creative writing, arts and designing, music circus skills to learners in various primary schools across the country.

“We have started with the North in Nkhata Bay and later it will spread to other regions,” she said.

According to Gilbert, the charity was set up in memory of Anno Birkin, a gifted English writer and musician who died in a car crash in 2001, just one month short of his 21st birthday. His parents founded the charity to offer less privileged children some of the creative opportunities that Anno himself enjoyed.

Funding comes from various artists in UK.

Primary education adviser (PEA) for Nkhata Bay Boma Zone, Isaac Kaunda, said he expects a positive outcome from the programme. n