In April 2007, OYO once again teamed up with LiveEd in the UK for an international exchange between Namibian and British young people. Three teenagers from London traveled to Namibia to take part in a writing workshop with three young Namibians. The result was two duologues about teenage pregnancy entitled ‘5 minutes of pleasure’. Teenage pregnancy is a major a problem that affects both the UK and Namibia. The UK has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe, and in Namibia one in five pregnancies are in girls under 18.
In June 2007 two actors from Namibia, Valerie Tjirimuje and Barnabas Ochurub, went to London to work with the British writers and to perform the duologues in schools in East London. Of the trip, Barnabas says “I learned more acting skills which I can now pass on to the AIDS Awareness Clubs that I work with… Acting is very important to give a message away, especially to children…if you act they like it and listen.”
At the beginning of July, the four Namibian actors were finally ready to take the duologues on tour in Kunene and Erongo – they will be performing for 21 schools over ten days, reaching over 1,000 young people.
The performance dates at the Theatre School in Windhoek are 18 and 19 July - don't miss them!
The writers (pictured left to right, above) are Ntuthuko Mcingolwane, Jessica Frimpong-Manso (UK), Charles Akuruka (UK), Valerie Tjirimuje, Evelina Ashipala and Gopal Gautum (UK).
The actos in the duologues are Barnabas Ochurub, Bianca, Valerie Tjirimuje and Paulina Tjitana.
