Accra, Dec. 19, GNA - Mr Michael H. Attipoe, Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the National Theatre, on Saturday urged parents to help nurture the artistic talents in their children to enable them to face social challenges objectively.

"This is because working in the arts demands discipline, commitment and self confidence, which are essential to the proper growth of any child," Mr Attipoe stated at the closing of KIDDAFEST 2004, in Accra. He noted that these qualities enhanced the child's ability to excel in any academic endeavour and enabled him or her to analyse social realities objectively.

"This is the advantage children in the developed countries have over their counterparts here. They are exposed at a very early age to feats that build their self-confidence and outlook".

Mr Attipoe maintained, "Our culture has tended to shut children up without giving them the opportunity to express themselves. "It is now time for us as a people to pay more attention to what children think about important issues so that we will understand why some behave the way they do and why some things happen".

He said apart from helping children to excel in various disciplines, exposure to the arts was a stepping-stone to the building of a strong theatre audience for the future.

Mr Attipoe said like the previous festivals, this year's KIDAFEST provided a platform for children to express their hopes, fears and aspirations about the rapid changes in society within the last few years.

He said it would be a delusion for the nation to think it could achieve the objectives of "Vision 2010" without paying greater attention to the arts and culture.

"Everything we do, including our concept of the universe, philosophy about life, health and behavioural patterns are guided by culture," he said, adding that, it was important for KIDDAFEST to be used as a forum to instil in children love for their culture and understanding and tolerance for other cultures.

Mr Attipoe said, "it is, therefore, necessary that parents and teachers understand the significance of our culture and the need to preserve it so that it can be passed down from generation to generation".

He called for more private sector support in the development and preservation of the arts and culture.

Miss Estelle Asiedu who won the "MISS KIDAFEST 2004," commended the physically challenged youth who participated in the programme for the first time.

"Indeed our brothers and sisters have shown that disability is not inability. The artistic finesse and flair that has been displayed by the physically and mentally challenged should erase whatever wrong impression we have for our brothers and sisters."

Miss Asiedu appealed to the government, churches and the public to promote their integration into society and national life since discrimination against them was against the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child.

Elder Adavi Abrahim, Artistic Director of the Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture in Nigeria who lead a 20-man team to the festival commended the organisers for offering a platform for children throughout the world to break the "cultural blockage".

Kids from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Liberia and the other parts of the world exhibited their finesse in dance, drumming and speech that thrilled the large audience including Diplomats, government officials and children at the festival held at the Efua Sutherland Children's Park.

Besides vibrant dances by contingents from Togo, Liberia and Nigeria and Ghanaian youth, from basic and senior secondary schools, there was a mock durbar of chiefs and parliamentary debate on child welfare.

It also highlighted drama, debates, circus shows, musical performances, acrobatics, food and handicraft exhibitions and photography.

KIDDAFEST 2004 on the theme, "The Youth, Our Future", was organised by the National Commission on Culture (NCC), the National Theatre of Ghana and the Ghana Education Service (GES).