Executive Dean of the School of Arts, Communication and Design at the University of Malawi in Zomba, Mufunanji Magalasi, said Tuesday that they are determined to partake in more projects aimed at impacting on national development.
His remarks follow a mission which has seen Parasport Against Stigma (Psas), a disability sports and stigma research project of the School of Arts, Communication and Design, embarking on a collaborative research project for mini drama series of Zimachitika by Story Workshop.
In its race for the project, the players held the radio drama series validation script reading with the Story Workshop Zimachitika production team in Blantyre on Saturday.
“The University of Malawi is pushing forward outreach for national development by offering such social development communication creations for, among others, the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society through awareness campaigns like radio drama series,” Magalasi said.
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Apart from the current project, Magalasi said School of Arts, Communication and Design, which has introduced six new undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degrees which will commence in September this year, revealed that they have done projects on persons with albinism, street children on sexuality and their understanding of HIV and Aids and Sula, a project sharpening artists’ skills and entrepreneurship in creative industries.
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“This is key because we are putting issues of disabilities on the national agenda, while bringing attention to the fact that Malawians with disabilities can participate in sports up to the Paralympics,” he said.
Jessica Noske-Turner from the University of Loughborough in the United Kingdom, who has collaborated with School of Arts, Communication and Design and Malawi Paralympic Committee in the project, said Zimachitika mini drama series on disability sports and stigma will be broadcast as a prelude to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“The series is meant to bring awareness on the issues on disability of Malawi, apart from preparing Malawians for the games in which Malawian athletes Taonele Banda, Mphatso Saukire and Esther Nagoli will compete in the Paris Paralympic Games later this year,” Noske-Turner said.
Chairperson for the Malawi Paralympic Committee, James Chiutsi, said the involvement of athletes and coaches of disability sports in drama is very important “because is assures the accuracy of the messages in the programme”.
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“We are happy with this drama series as it will go a long way in raising awareness on disability sports in Malawi,” he said.
Story Workshop Executive Director Peter Pangani said the idea of involving stakeholders such as athletes and coaches of disability sports helps them as producers to record and broadcast things with confidence.
University of Malawi, Loughborough University, London, International Paralympic Committee with the Malawi Paralympic Committee, have been implementing Parasport Against Stigma on People with Disabilities from 2020 to 2024 with funds from the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development through the Global Innovation Hub.
