OYO dance troupe is preparing for Clipper event

The OYO dance troupe OYO had the great honour to receive an invitation from VSO RAISA to perform during a conference organised for parliamentarians from SADC. In October 2009, VSO RAISA and the SADC PF jointly organised a conference which brought together parliamentarians from five countries, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Baroness Margaret Jay of Paddington from the United Kingdom officiated and facilitated at the conference. In April 2010 VSO RAISA jointly with the SADC PF will organise a parliamentarian follow up meeting during the October Conference, utilising Clipper facilities in Cape Town in SA. The objectives will be: To update Parliamentarians on HIV spread key drivers in Southern Africa. To discuss and package messages that address advocacy work on the reduction of burden of care on women and girls for presentation in various parliaments in Southern Africa. To raise VSO RAISA profile through participation of other senior Government officials from SA and other governments in the region at the meeting. To share HIV prevention interventions such as Art from the Namibia partner OYO in order for parliamentarians to engage with youths in HIV prevention in an effective way. In order to do so, OYO invited its dance troupe to start preparing for the event. Five old members (Nyandee Mbarandongo, Estomine Haradoes, Norman Kapunda, Zito da Cunha and Daniel Ndume) were joined by newcomers El Juanita Philander and Dennis Kharuchab (from Arandis), Paulina Tjiatana and Mercy Khaises (from Khorixas) and West Uarije (from Opuwo). Under the direction of OYO’s director Philippe Talavera, they started rehearsing in Windhoek on 08 March. Rehearsals will run till 23 April, when the dancers will be joined by famous Zimbabwean musician Leonard Zhakata, who will perform with us at the clipper. The performance will take place on board of the Clipper, magnificent boat rented for the event. The event is scheduled for 29 April in Cape Town, South Africa. OYO would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Windhoek, in particular its community development department, for providing us with the rehearsals space.