Where Writing is Fun, not Punishment

By Peter Gikonyo, 15, St James Feeding & Education Project, Mathare
Published August 16, 2010

It is the 6th day. We have come to the end of the fifth edition of the annual Lola Kenya Screen film festival that showcased more than 100 films from 38 nations in 33 languages. It is a very sad moment indeed. I personally have made at least some progress in creative journalism despite the short period of time I have been at Lola Kenya Screen.

I was fully occupied over the six days of this premier children’s event in Africa. Although some of my colleagues in the creative journalism mentorship programme have experienced difficulties in writing, I have benefited immensely from this skill-development initiative for children and youth.

Here at Lola Kenya Screen, writing is fun rather than punishment as I had seen in the past days of school. I think from now onwards I shall be writing my compositions in school in less than 35 minutes if I am too slow. The workshop lessons conducted by the Lola Kenya Screen director including the characteristics of a good essay or story and the qualities of being a journalist have really opened up my eyes and expanded my brain.

I can’t even for a second forget about the films shown here. They were very educative films. Champions of our Time, Seasons of a Life and Lost and Found have been some of the most educative films that I saw.

The organisers of Lola Kenya Screen are very committed to their work. The festival was more than just about screening and I was glad to meet some of our local celebrities at the Kenya Cultural Centre.

I am very grateful to Lola Kenya Screen for holding such a nice event. Keep up the spirit and may the Lord of Mercy bless Lola Kenya Screen.