BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Wednesday 12 November 2014

INTERVIEW WITH PORTIA DERY (GOLDEN BAOBAB PRIZE SHORTLIST AUTHOR)

PORTIA DERY (IHAV PARTICIPANT 2013)

Congratulations Portia on your nomination and shortlist for the Golden Baobab prize. You were a participant at the 1st edition of the IHAV Project Conference.

Tell us:

 1. How would you describe your experience at the IHAV Conference?


My IHAV experience is something I would never trade for anything in the world. If there was anything that challenged me to thrive to attain my dreams; then it was the 2013 IHAV conference. Indeed, for me I did not just gain knowledge at the conference, but I gained long-life friends from other African countries, I got opportunities that open doors for me, I gained hope for the future and I got infected with the African love; I felt in love with Africa for the first time! And when I came back from the conference I was elated, I just couldn’t shut up my mouth (my mum and brother soon got tired of me-lol)  and so I told anybody I met down the street how the IHAV conference  was awesome.

2. How has the IHAV conference you participated in shaped your insight and challenged you to pursue your vision?


I have always had dreams of starting something that would thrust my vision into action, but I never knew how or when nor if I was even capable of pursuing it. But at the IHAV 2013 conference my worldview was vigorously challenged. I used to think I was the only passionate person  in the world that wanted to change it, till I meet people(who were roughly the same age I was)   who  had achieved so much and were doing amazing things back in their  own countries.  And so right after the conference i too knew it was time to propel my vision into action. 

 3. Tell us about how you heard of and participated in the Golden Baobab Prize?


I love writing and I love children, and these were the very things Golden Baobab was championing  and so when I heard of the 2014 Golden Baobab Prize for African children’s literature , I knew there was no way I would miss that and  so I wrote two stories and entered them and am glad to know one made it.

 4. Tell us how you feel about making the shortlist.


I feel very humbled and grateful; my faith in God had crossed a 100% threshold. Also, as writer with self-doubt; who is never really sure if  a sentence or a word  is in the right place or if a story is really  good enough, I feel validated! 

5. Was the IHAV conference instrumental in your participation and nomination?


A yes! After the conference, the fire that ignited within me was difficult to quench. I think it led me to seek more opportunities to enrich and empower myself.  The conference made me believe that it was ok to have bold dreams, that it wasn’t strange to succeed and that was the mindset that led me in writing for the Golden Baobab’s competition.

6. Tell us about your organization AYWO.


 The African Youth Writers Organization-AYWO is a non-profit organization which seeks to promote African literature and child literacy. We believe that if we could groom a vibrant young crop of readers and writers now; imagine what that would mean in the next 5-10 years? It would imply that writers and publishers would have a guaranteed market for their books, it would mean that the reading culture of Africans would improve (which would reflect in the choices they make as citizens) and it thus strongly suggest that we would have a strong crop of African writers that would write beautiful stories of Africa.   Because, when the writers of a nation are right; their leaders would be right.
AYWO is currently promoting child literacy by making reading books accessible to children and by organizing reading and writing clinics. AYWO in collaboration with Mariam Ziona’s ‘Bliss butterfly network’, Kofi Larbi( a media expert) and IHAV foundation have declared November as #Bookcollectionmonth where we are seeking to collect 1000 books to donate to the Tamale Regional Library and IHAV’s Pieces  for Peace project.

7. Can anyone be a part of AYWO, and how do they join?


AYWO is open to anyone who has the passion to make a difference. At AWYO we believe in volunteerism and partnership, so no matter your skills/expertize and profession, we have a place for you! We therefore strongly encourage people who are interested to send us a mail via afrikanywo@gmail.com. Join us in promoting African literature and child literacy.

8. Lets delve into social entrepreneurship and volunteering, what’s your take on these two?


Social entrepreneurship and volunteerism should be the new cool. We can no longer afford to wait on politicians to do the very things that directly affect us. We need to develop local initiatives that would promote development and create jobs. Although we are not all cut out to be social entrepreneurs, we can still support others with our resources, time, passion and skills.
If the road to your house is full of potholes, do something! Don’t wait on a politician who may never ride on that road. If a local school lacks school supplies, go there and give out your old books. If homeless children hover around your area; get up and volunteer to help them, because if you don’t it is you they would rob, not the politician in his/her secured building.
So that in the end no politician can tell us that they have built more schools, roads, and other things as their achievement; we would be bold to let them know that through social entrepreneurship and volunteerism we too can do even those things!
I therefore salute social ventures like the Ghana Think Foundation, the Golden Baobab, the Sangy Foundation, IHAV Foundation, Tech Need Girls and others that are changing lives within Ghana and across the continent.

9. Can we (the public) help in you anyway for you to claim the Golden Baobab prize? If yes, How?


The Golden Baobab Prize is a competition that is strictly determined through a vigorous and technical evaluation process by a set of judges.  It is therefore not open to the public for voting/views. Nevertheless, the public can hype the Golden Baobab prize by promoting its activities and celebrating the shortlists especially through social media. Media houses, writers, publishers, readers should be promoting Golden Baobab activities because it is an initiative that is empowering Africa writers and promoting children’s literature.

10. Do you have something you want to share with us that has not been asked?


Success is not by chance nor is it by luck but a deliberate strategic plan that when combined with God’s favor would propel you to greater heights. I therefore encourage the youth particularly aspiring/emerging writers to focus and invest their time on their passion.
I kindly urge everyone to join AYWO in the #bookcollectionmonth and the Pieces of Peace initiative. Please donate books/writing materials/school supplies to help promote child literacy.

And thank you so much IHAV foundation for giving me this opportunity

It has been a privilege to speak with you and I know the public especially the IHAV family will support you in every possible way. Thank you.

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