Display of 110 ft mural ' The Multi-coloured Scarf of Peace'

Peace Mural at F-9 Park

Messages bring smile on faces of displaced kids

Monday, October 19, 2009, The News
Myra Imran

Islamabad

Making a perfect use of colours and images to spread the message of peace at the time when it is needed the most, the 110 foot long mural “My Multicoloured Scarf of Peace,” that went on display at F-9 Park brought smile to the faces of internally displaced children from Bajur and those living in capital’s slums.

Organized by Funkor Childart Centre in collaboration with the youth group Zimmedar Shehri, a group of middle class idealists who have set out to bring social change, the event was also attended by civil society activists including Tahira Abdullah and Nina Zubairi. Bilquis Nasr-um- Minallah was the chief guest on the occasion. Artist and writer Fauzia Minallah designed the mural.

The Funkor plans to exhibit the mural at the ‘Exhibition of the Century’ to be organized by the Art Miles Mural Project (AMMP) in Egypt in 2010. The AMMP plans to construct a pyramid of murals, next to the magnificent ancient pyramids in Egypt.

The event was participated by a large number of children from Pehli Kiran School System (PKSS) that operates in squatter settlements in and around Islamabad. As they wear what they get from donors, the enthusiastic children were dressed up in variety of uniforms and took great interest in expressing their selves through art activities.

Also present were internally displaced children from Bajur who study in a school run by philanthropist Mona Mehmood in Golra. The children embellished hundreds of mirrors on the scarf with the help of Zimmedar Shehri volunteers.

They also enjoyed painting a mural themselves and got a pleasant surprise when the Capital Development Authority (CDA) opened up the Children’s Park for them that is other wise closed for public for repair work. Many of them never experienced such an art related activity before in their lives. “I can not wait to paint as I had never done painting before in my life,” said Shahzia Allah Buksh while pointing towards a harsh reality in an innocent way.

“The only way to achieve peace is to capture all terrorists,” said 9-years-old Nadeem Khan. Before they started decorating the finally designed scarf, the children were briefed about the message every part of the scarf was conveying. With the help of Amai, character of a bird invented by Fauzia Minallah, the scarf portrays the real meaning of peace that could be achieved only with education, love, tolerance, enlightened minds, gender balance and environment protection.

Amai is a bird of made of light, which is a friend of children and takes them to exciting adventures. Amai means mother in some parts of Balochistan. The character loves children like mothers and makes them understand the meaning of peace by showing them the devastations of war and conflicts in different parts of the world.

Terming it an identity of Pakistani women, Fauzia said that the scarf represents ‘dupatta’ that was an essential part of Pakistani dress. “To make it a true representative of our culture and society, I have chosen mirror work as it also makes a basic component of traditional work done in most parts of the country.”

Highlighting the reason behind choosing scarf as symbol of peace, she said that by using symbols of traditions, she had tried to convey the message that Pakistani society was a peaceful society. “Despite our unprecedented sacrifices to curb terrorism, it is unfortunate to see that the world has started perceiving every Pakistani boy as a terrorist and every girl with scarf as an extremist,” she said, adding that the scarf was an effort to nullify that image.

A unique event at Fatima Jinnah Park

By: Azam Khan Published: October 18, 2009The Nation

ISLAMABAD - A large number of students from different schools of the Capital on Saturday took part in the paintings contest titled, ‘My multi-coloured scarf of peace, a display of 110 ft mural, designed by artist Fauzia Minallah here at the Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9 Park).
It was a unique event of its kind in which students from City School,

Beaconhouse and other high-ranked schools of the Capital and students from the Katchi Abadis’ schools participated organised by Funkor Child Art Centre with the collaboration of Zimmadar Shehri.
The basic aim of the contest was to highlight the miseries of deprived segment of the society and to address the misconception regarding scarf and the peaceful youth of the country.
Rafiullah, a student of class 5th at Pehli Kiran School System, which was started in 1996 near Golra Sharif Katchi Abadi area, s

aid that he first time visited such a marvelous place of the Capital. He suggested that such events should be held every month. Another student of a Katchi Abadi school expressed same feelings, as he took part in the contest and won prizes.
Tahir Abdullah, a social activist, told TheNation that Fauzia has dedicated her multi-coloured scarf of peace to all those children who were living under difficult circumstances and face discrimination. It features, Amai, a cartoon character developed by her for children. It is a bird made of light, which is a friend of children and takes them on exciting adventures and spread the message of love, peace and tolerance, she said.

‘Scarf of Peace’ displayed at F-9 Park

Staff Report DailyTimes

ISLAMABAD: Funkor Child Art Centre (FCA) held a display of a 110 ft mural ‘My Multi-coloured Scarf of Peace’, at Fatima Jinnah Park on Saturday.

FCA organised the event in collaboration with the youth group “Zimmedar Shehri”.

Designed by artist and writer of children literature Fauzia Minallah, the 110 ft mural ‘Multi-coloured Scarf of Peace’ has been dedicated to all those children who are living under difficult circumstances and face discrimination.

The colourful scarf featured ‘Amai’, a cartoon character developed by Minallah for children. More than 100 children embellished this mural with hundreds of small mirrors. Children from squatter settlements of Islamabad, NGOs representatives, students and a large number of people participated in the event. The children later went to Pehli Kiran School System, a voluntarily run school, which was started in 1996.

Talking to Daily Times, Minallah said Amai is a bird made of light, which is a friend of children and takes them on exciting adventures and spreads the message of love, peace and tolerance. Amai means ‘mother’ in some parts of Balochistan, she added.

“Pakistan is going through tumultuous times and we are the victims of terrorism, consequently, we are losing our friends and loved ones, yet for some- every Pakistani boy is perceived as a ‘terrorist’ and every little girl wearing a scarf as an ‘extremist’, she said.

Courtesy AAJ Tv