EPWORTH YOUNG WRITERS RECEIVE BOOKS

By Writers International Network Zimbabwe

The Epworth Chapter of the Writers International Network Zimbabwe (WIN) received more than 100 books from Zimbabwe Reads on April 20 in support of the ongoing Epworth Community Outreach Programme.

The outreach programme was launched in February this year in partnership with Global Arts Trust to assist aspiring writers, poets, actors, and encourage reading activities in the community. A chapter office was opened at the Epworth Home Industry to aid the outreach programme.

Zimbabwe Reads, a collaborative effort of Zimbabweans and international friends who are encouraging a culture of reading by providing materials and access to information, has so far distributed reading material to partner organisations, schools and community libraries.

The books, handed over to WIN Founder & Director Beaven Tapureta by Zimbabwe Reads representative Professor Jeffrey Wills, include different copies of ‘The Write Idea!’ and ‘Writer’s Choice’ series, ‘Language Activity Book’ and ‘Write Idea: Teacher’s Planning Guide’.

The hard-covered books, which are in good condition and have basic instructional contents suitable for workshops and writers’ circles, will assist young writers in Epworth to sharpen their writing, reading and learning skills.

The books are also helpful to secondary school students wishing to improve their language and writing skills.

WIN Founder & Director Beaven Tapureta said that although the books have come at a time when WIN is still troubled over the death of Global Arts Trust Director Walter L Muparutsa, they are in fact in honour of his legacy.

“The donation strengthens our resolve to bring literature to communities and sharpen the skills of our young writers, the same resolve that characterised the late Muparutsa,” Tapureta said.

Muparutsa, described as the grandfather of Zimbabwean theatre and strongly supported WIN, died on April 12 in Harare after a struggle with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

 “We are happy with the response we are getting from the book sector. It is encouraging,” said Tapureta.

On behalf of the Global Arts Trust, theatre entrepreneur Peter Churu, who also worked closely with the late Muparutsa, said the book donation fulfils one of the late Muparutsa’s wishes to see reading culture improving among the youths.

“This donation comes just a few days too late for Walter to have been here and express his gratitude himself. Walter dedicated his entire life to the furtherance of learning and reading. He had an enormous appetite for books and always bemoaned the lack of a reading culture among today's youth. In his view, a well-read individual is a more complete and balanced. He would have had the greatest satisfaction and pleasure to pass this treasure to the readers in the Epworth community,” said Churu.

Edwin Mhandu, a WIN Board Member, said that the books will go a long way in helping young writers of today and the future.

“I applaud the gesture of goodwill. The books will go a long way in helping current and future generations,” he said.

In this digital epoch, the book donation rescues underprivileged communities starved of reading resources.

WIN was formed in 2010 with the main objective to create a network of Zimbabwean writers whether they are unpublished or published, live in or outside the country. Over the past two years, WIN has made positive strides in laying a permanent foundation as an organisation that will change the lives of many Zimbabwean youths interested in literature and languages. WIN runs under the supervision of a professional Advisory Board chaired by Josephine-Sithole Muganiwa, a writer and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.