Funkor News

Amai & Santa in Shanty Towns of Islamabad

2011-12-19T03:35:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, Amai - the bird of light along with her friend Santa, visited the shanty towns of Islamabad to distribute gifts among children in the church schools. First of all they visited Calvary Charismatic Church, G-12, in Maira Jafar,Islamabad.
There were hundred excited children waiting for them. In Mathew Academy in G7, there were 40 children , Universal Gospel Assembly Church in G-8/4 there were 62 children, Universal Gospel Assembly Church in G-7 there were 100, Pakistan Gospel Assembly church in G -7 there were 77, and in Methodist Church in G-7 there were 36 children.

Children sang hymns and danced and thanked Amai and Santa as they bid farewell. In the end Ahmad Faraz ( who was dressed up as Santa) told the children that he is a Muslim, but loves all children.

Ahmad Faraz, is the field coordinator of Funkor Childart Center. Amai and Santa is a project of Funkor. All the gifts distributed were made possible by Maria Bader's fund raising through the ' Scarves of Peace ' painted by Pakistani children which were exhibited in Austria and Germany. Nadia Khan donated Thanks to Ms. Sameena Nazir, the Santa dress was borrowed from PODA.

Amai is a magical bird made of light and million tiny stars, that can turn into a shooting star and take children on exciting adventures around the world . Amai means 'mother' in some parts of Balochistan. Amai loves children like a mother . She can fly children million miles up in the space and thousands of miles under the earth, She takes them back in the past as well as, in future. Amai wants children to know their world, love and respect it and work for making it a humane one. Amai is a cartoon character developed by artist Fauzia Minallah who is also a writer of children's books and founder of Funkor Childart Center

Interview of Fauzia Minallah in Artech Magazine

2011-08-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

巴基斯坦艺术家 Fauzia Minallah

风的气味阳光的高度－盲童公园

采访做多了就深明一个道理，我们很多时候不是不想做而是从来没有想起过。在做完这个采访之后，我跟一个朋友聊起这位巴基斯坦艺术家所做的，我说我很惭愧，香港这么发展的地方也没有一个专为盲童的公园，不是钱的问题，是没有想过的问题。我问我的朋友，他有没有想过，他说，如果他的女儿是盲的，他肯定会想到。

我第一次看见这个专为盲童的公园真的从心里感动出来，公园设施的高度、周边的花草树木的气味及风向与回音也在设计安排上加以特别的考虑，让看不见的但却可以看见一样的安全在玩耍。多美。 Fauzia Minallah是巴基斯坦的艺术家及儿童文学作家，她伙拍年青建筑师Faiza Moatasim及德国学生 Katrin Becker来完成公园的设计与建筑。

想起是要挑动的，所以……

interview by PingLing Cheung
photos by Fauzia Minallah

FM：Fauzia Minallah a:artech

a:what are the reasons that you want to design a park for the blind children?
FM：After some volunteer work at the Almaktoom Center for the Visually Impaired children in Islamabad and after knowing some blind children some of my own pre conceived ideas about blind people changed. I found them as capable as any other child. They need physical activities like any other child. In Pakistan they are mostly confined indoors, many Pakistani families do not take their special children in public. Even if they get a chance of going to a public public park they get pushed and shoved, as children in parks are very excited and very few are careful with special children . While it is relatively easier to play in public parks by children who have hearing impairment but for a blind child public parks are very dangerous places.
Almaktoom already had a couple of swings and a merry go round but I wanted a full fledged mini park for them, I was lucky some friends wanted to donate their money to a project of building a play area for blind children and the director of the school was also very supportive so the idea of Amai Park was conceived. The Capital Development Authority donated one of the play stations with slides/monkey bar etc that they install in public parks.

a:How many of that kind of parks you did?
FM：This is the only one so far.

a:What is the difficulties doing such park?
FM：Making it a place that children without sight can enjoy as well it should be safe for them.

a:Should you tell us more about the techniques of making a park for the blind?
FM：I am not a very technical person so I can only give a designer's perspective. More then techniques what important to develop something out of love for these children and give them a space they will enjoy. It should be an enriching experience for blind children as far as the sense of smell, touch and sound are concerned.
For smell I planted herbs such as basil and mint. I have personally not added any flowers or foreign grass that needs lots of water or are difficult to maintain. There were already banana trees, apple and apricot trees. children can feel the leaves and find their differences, so we kept them. Sadly the main big tree that we called the singing tree around which I had designed a sitting area for the children have died due to wood worms so I will plant another tree in its place.Trees are very important here and children are encouraged to touch and feel the leaves of different fruit trees. When 6 year old Asma touched the leaves of banana trees she said 'oh these are giant leaves'. We have not used any expensive grass so as not to waste water, children are encouraged to respect nature. In autumn all the leaves from the trees are collected and children have great fun walking and jumping on dried leaves.

To ensure extra safety all the slides have higher railings. There are bells of different sizes and even jingly decorations from truck art give different sounds which make their experience great fun.

A young architect Faiza Moatassim had specially design ceramic tiles with the ABC written in braille.. It displays children's paintings. Children with low vision painted the flowers while those who are totally blind painted with the aid of stencils. We used very bright colours with the spirit that, 'so what !! if they cant see we want to give them the brightest colours'. 15 year old Komal said something so beautiful that, ' I painted colourful flowers because this is how I want my world to be'.

Water fountains are very important for gardens for blind children. Its feel is very soothing and as you know how much children love playing with water. The sound of water is also very therapeutic. Initially I had a small fountain for the children. Blind children are extremely enthusiastic about exploring everything with their hands. The fountaian was operated by electricity and they were very inquisitive to explore how it works. I had to remove the fountain because I was afraid they dont get an electric shock. Now we only have a big cement bowl which fills with rain water. The water is then used to water the plants later. There is also sandpit, wind chimes, herbs and fragrant plants, the facility has all those features that will give an experience based on senses of sound, touch and smell.

This park is named after Amai, the magical bird of peace a cartoon character I designed for children and which I have used in my books for children. Amai means 'mother' in some parts of Balochistan. Amai loves children like a mother and we tried to make this park as comfortable and cozy as a lap of mother.

a:Is it popular in your country having parks for the blind children?
FM：Although there is a big park already developed for special people in the F 9 park, by the Ministry of Special Education and the Capital Development Authority, but there the play area is for normal kids. Amai Park 's play area is the first of its kind in Pakistan , where every effort is made to make it a fun place for the visually challenged children.

a:Share with us what your feel when seeing the children playing in the Park you design for them?
FM：Watching these children go up and down the monkey bar just like any other child fills my heart with joy. There were children who were afraid of going down the slide because they had never used it before but now watching them enjoy it is just a very happy feeling. Amai Park is not a very big project neither does it cost alot of money but I am happy that it is a place that the school can use to entertain these children. but I must confess I feel very sad when an accident happens. There have been two incidents that the children were hit by a swing. So now I have the seats of the swings extra padded with sponge.

a:Tell us more about your team members, some of them are blind?
FM：Without the financial help of Dr Anwar Dil, Bilquis Nasrum-Minallah, Syed Ahsanullah Qureshi, Humaira Masihuddin and Sohail Altaf President Parent Teacher Association, the construction of park would have not been possible. The Capital Development Authority provided us with a big playstation. Architect Faiza Moatasimhelped in designing the park and made special Braille tiles which we have used in the designing. Katrin Becker a young student from Germany helped in painting the . play area and helped in painting mural with children. The blind teachers from Almaktoom helped us in learning braille ourselves and then applying it on the braille tiles etc. The director of Almaktoom Robina Anjum was very supportive and most of all the children were our biggest advisors.

a:How can you understand about the feeling of being blind?
FM：People can be so insensitive sometimes blind. I am always impressed to see them walking in a group. These children give me a lesson in humanity. The one who has just a little vision is always leading those who are totally blind. I have almost always seen them helping each other, even those as young as 5. It is very sad that most of the blind children come from poor families. Sometimes three siblings from the same family are blind. It is very painful for these families. Blind children need to be treated as regular children but some families feel ashamed of them and dont take them out in the public other's feel that they have blind children because God has punished them for some sins. So these children grow up with an inferiority complex. There are ofcourse some exceptions for examble a remarkable blind woman Saima Ammar who established the Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness (PFFB) or a young Pakistani blind student who is presently at the Harvard University in the US. They are exceptions because they came from priveledged backgrounds and they recieved better schooling and had better opprtunities in developing their personalities. For a large number of blind children the reality is very painful as most of them come from poor backgrounds.

a:What are the suggestions for Government about the facilities on blind children?
FM：Compared to many government institutions Almaktoom is doing a pretty good job as far as providing education for blind children is concerned. Although one wishes the teachers were more well equipped and trained in dealing with blind children on the whole it is a blessing for these children who would never have had an opportunity of education.They have a bus service that picks children from far off areas of Islamabad and Pindi. They have special computer lab as well as a braille printing press. So this institute is doing pretty well so far but with economic crisis it will be devastating if there is decrease in funding. My suggestion for the government would be to improve further institutions for special children rather than cutting down its funding.

a:Could you write us about your life as a designer, it is a very broad question, may be you can write us some unforgettable of your experiences, not just as a designer.13.If you don't mind write something about yourself let Chinese readers know you more.
FM：It is difficult to write about myself but I can quote from my website www.fauziaminallah.com it explains my work :

Although I was referred to as an “artist” early in life, I cannot claim to be one. The work I do is inspired by the whole range of cultural influences I have experienced. I find inspiration in the ancient slate cemetries of my parents hometown in Sirikot, Hazara in the North Western part of Pakistan .The folk art 'chitarkari' or slate carving as well as wood carving of Kalash and Kohistan have been sources of inspiration too. I am greatly indebted to the artists and craftsmen of history and it is of the greatest importance to me that my work should help transmit appreciation for their work and its continuation. This is especially the case in an increasingly commercialized art world where artistic talent needs to be sustained by sharp marketing skills and business sense.

Moved by aspects of our culture which are fast disappearing, I have painted or carved without a view to the market. The time that needs to be spent on negotiation I have spent working on art projects with children, and for the conservation of traditional skills and natural beauty. These activities I take as seriously as my creative work.

I love art and even more now that I see it vanishing in much of Pakistan –both the art of galleries in some parts of Pakistan and the splendid art of nature. For me art is not only man made found in galleries and museums, but also out there in nature.

Most of my time is dedicated in sharing my art with children. Whether it is through organising art workshops or by illustrating and writing picture books and giving them free of cost to children in 'difficult circumstances', through my organisation Funkor Childart Center.

Awards
1985 – 86 for best editorial cartoonist -Winner of All Pakistan Newspaper Society Award(the first award winning female political cartoonist of Pakistan)

Winner of National Book Foundation Award 2003 for promotion of children’s literature.

The team of "Sadako's Prayer Project', a book written and illustrated by Fauzia Minallah was the winner of Hiroshima Citizen's Award in 2007.

Short listed for the Bremen Peace award 2009(One of the nominated projects and organizations, which are exemplary in their work for peace, justice and integrity of creation. For democratizing art education and making it accessible to kids from low-income families, so that they too can playfully discover their own creativity)

Iqra - Read (A Prayer for the Girls of Afghanistan and Pakistan) was winner of third prize at the My Hero Project short film festival 2009. This film promotes the education of the girl child in Afghanistan and Pakistan through Mural Art.

Winner of 'Special Hero award' at the My Hero Project short film festival 2009.

Winner of the Ron Kovic Peace prize 2010 at the My Hero Project short film festival 2010.

Exibition of Samreen Asif's Paintings at CIIT

2011-06-15T01:11:00.000-07:00

Staff report Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Samreen Asif exhibited her cache of 21 miniature paintings titled ‘Flight of Imagination’ here at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) on Tuesday.

Renowned artist and writer Fauzia Minallah was the chief guest on the occasion. The Rector, CIIT, SM Junaid Zaidi, and Farrah M Adnan, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Design was also present on the occasion.

Focusing on Mughal styled miniatures, Samreen captures different forms of female. In few of her paintings, she uses the brush to highlight discriminations against women. “In present circumstances, a Pakistani women cannot be able to get the status she deserves because she is struggling alone,” Samreen said. Samreen has taken some challenging tasks to bless and beautify her work with modern touch, moonlight, white swans with dramatic moods and lotus pools with lovers create a great feeling for the viewers.

She said, “My subject matter presents my grandeur of thought depicting women with eternal hope of freedom and liberty replete with dramatic colors and romantic atmosphere.”

The exhibition depicts her dominance over the traditional techniques, steady hand on finer details and influence of various miniature painting traditions such as Chinese and Persian. The exhibition will remain open until 17th June

AUTHOR: Championing peace: Fauzia Aziz Minallah

2011-05-28T00:12:00.001-07:00

DAWN, Books and Authors. November 17, 2002
By Huma Khawar

ARTIST, designer, cartoonist and writer, Fauzia Aziz Minallah has an innate desire to “reach out” to children. Warm, dedicated and a mother of two small boys, she is very vocal in expressing her annoyance and apprehensions on the current political situation of the world and its effects on the young minds.

Inspired by the September 11 attack in the US, Fauzia, a young mother opted to write a book to show the other side of the picture. The book, Amai’s wish written, illustrated from a mother’s perspective, encourages compassion and empathy for other’s suffering.

“I was very upset when I heard children saying, ‘Good’ it happened to the Americans. Look what they are doing to the Afghan children’,” she shares her hurt and disappointment. “We have to be very careful about the messages our children are getting and what the young minds are exposed to. The images of violence shown on TV are absorbed by the young minds. Unaware of the fact that the children are taking in these messages we keep talking and our children are growing up with it.”

Her second book in print is also on the same theme of promoting love and peace amongst children of the globe. Children, she feels have a right to the whole truth but we only tell them half of it. “There are various messages of violence the children are receiving. The ugly structures of missiles supposedly beautifying our cities are a shameful reflection on our society,” she says. Brilliant coloured illustrations and short simple sentences are an attractive feature of her books. To increase readership, she intends to have her books bilingual, both in Urdu and English at the same time.

Returning with a Masters in Communication Design from Pratt Institute, New York, in 1992 and fascinated by children’s illustrations, Fauzia started a children’s cartoon series which continued for two years. Through her character Babai, a typical Pakistani girl child, she illustrated and wrote stories on different issues of Pakistani culture. “They were mainly topics parents don’t talk about to their children,” she explains. Through her full page colour illustrations she narrated stories about special children, who they were and why were they special, the beauty and culture of Kalash valley, snow leopards and how they were being lost, issues of water conservation and tree plantation, etc.

Zarina, a Pakistani paper doll book published in 1988, was Fauzia’s first experiment in book printing. The book had a Pakistani paper doll and dresses from different provinces and areas of Pakistan. She feels sorry that Zarina never went into a second print and that there is not a single Pakistani paper doll in the market today.

The sad part is that in Pakistan anything concerning children is not considered important enough. Parents are not in a habit of buying books and so it is not commercially viable to print a second edition. “Even the children, for that matter, are not all that excited when they receive books as gifts. To please them, parents go and buy a toy worth Rs500 but not a book.” In the developed countries, she says, in spite of all the toys for children, books are also sold .

She feels today’s child is a lot different from children of her own generation. “Their span of concentration is limited as the images they are exposed to through the new technology are so fast.” Probe her about a solution to the problem, and she calls for the “awareness raising” of parents. Parents inspired by the new technology buy computer games for their children without understanding that there is an age limit for each and every game. “It is not good for a child of seven to play a game which is meant for a 25 year old marine. All this affects a child’s reading habits. The parents must maintain the routine for the child which must include time for reading books.”

Book Review: ' Chitarkari & Banyans - The Pursuit of Identity'

2010-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Symbols of life

Reviewed By Zubeida Mustafa in DAWN Books and Authors

THE English poet John Keats described a ‘thing of beauty’ as a ‘joy for ever’ and declared that its ‘loveliness never passes into nothingness’. That was true in Pakistan before the timber mafia reared its ugly head and the forces of consumerism and religious extremism began to pull down trees and other natural heritage.

To get an idea of how these current trends have vandalised nature and ravaged its beauty take a look at Fauzia Aziz Minallah’s masterpiece Chitarkari & Banyans: The pursuit of identity. Its vivid and rich images corroborate John Keats’ observation on beauty. Its poignant narrative reminds the reader that a lot of our natural wealth stands in danger of being destroyed if it already has not been.

Minallah, an artist, nature lover, environmentalist and activist, seeks her artistic identity through her excellent photography that connects her with natural elements such as the banyan tree, which was held in great reverence as a symbol of harmony and peace, and cultural legacies, such as the engraved slates that make the tombstones for the graves on Gangar hills. Hence the title of this volume.

The author correctly observes that a people derive its collective identity from the geography, topography, animal and plant life and mineral wealth of its homeland. Its shared memory of its history and its culture (that includes its literary and artistic legacy) also go into the making of a multi-layered identity of people.

Being an artist, Minallah is more sensitive to these components of her own individual identity that she is able to appreciate with her keen aesthetic sense. But this sensitivity also pains her immensely to see the identity factor being exploited so unscrupulously in Pakistan in the name of ideology, beautification or to promote commercial and consumer avarice.

The author-cum-artist takes the reader on an exciting journey from Hazara to Islamabad and then on to Saidpur, the shrine of Barri Imam, the Buddhist caves, the Rawal Lake, Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Moenjodaro, Quetta, Lahore. Swat and Nathiagali. In some places the reader gets great insights into an artistic heritage or natural riches of different regions whereas others are vignettes. But one is introduced to beauty throughout this journey while receiving a lesson in love, peace, environment preservation and natural conservation.

Minallah believes that the art and culture of a region can be saved if the people in power were to identify themselves with it. One cannot deny the truth of this observation. But isn’t it being unrealistic to expect the people in power to be really interested in saving our natural, social and cultural environment? On many occasions they themselves have been the killers of the history, geography and culture of Pakistan and have thus mutilated the identity of the people.

Wasn’t it under General Ayub Khan that textbooks of history and geography were discontinued and children were fed on a concoction that went by the name of Social Studies? Even before the military government took over an attack had been launched on the indigenous languages. In Sindh, Sindhi was withdrawn as the medium of instruction.

Mercifully we still have activists and committed people like Fauzia Minallah who keep challenging the powers that be in an effort to keep alive public interest in the environment and the cultural and artistic legacy of every region of Pakistan.

What I did miss in the book, though, was a reference to Karachi. Probably the author didn’t live here long enough. For Karachians, as many of us like to call ourselves, the slow process of the destruction of nature, that Minallah documents, has taken place in the city that we view as our home. Does anyone remember the ‘vanished’ fruit gardens of Malir where we spent our weekends as children connecting with nature and drawing inspiration from the greenery and open spaces on the outskirts of Karachi?

Bremen Peace Award Brochure: Courageously Crossing Thresholds

2009-11-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Bremen Peace Award Brochure: Courageously Crossing Thresholds
http://www.dieschwelle.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Peace_Award_2009.pdf
The Threshold Foundation publishes a brochure titled „Courageously Crossing Thresholds” on the occasion of every peace prize award ceremony. This brochure presents around 30 nominated projects and organizations, which are exemplary in their work for peace, justice and integrity of creation.
Fauzia Aziz Minallah's work is also featured in the brochure in the following words.

Fauzia Aziz Minallah

Art education is a privilege in Pakistan, available only to a very few children. Fauzia Aziz Minallah wants to democratize art education and makes it accessible to kids from low-income families, so that they too can playfully discover their own creativity.

Teaching Kids Peace Through Art
Amai Park, located in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, is one of the outstanding projects by Fauzia Aziz Minallah. It’s a school-playground designed for the special needs of blind and virtually handicapped children. This playground is special since these kids participated in the process of designing it. They put forth their own ideas without any assistance from their teachers. Many of these children come from battered families, where frustration, violence, money troubles and lack of future prospects are part of everyday-life.
Fauzia Aziz Minallah encourages these children to trust their own abilities and develop self-confidence. In this process, boys and girls learn what it means to be truly appreciated. This is a place, where the kids have equal rights and where a peaceful living is possible – a stark
contrast to their experience within their own families. Minallah, who is also an artist, uses art as a vehicle to prevent violence, which often arises out of frustration and desperation. For her, art is one of the strongest pillars of peace – this becomes obvious while observing her in action.
Minallah heads a small institution called "Funkor Child Art Center Pakistan". At this center, thousands of Pakistani children have learnt how inspiring artwork can be. In Germany, using watercolours and pencils is a matter of course. This is not the case in Pakistan: art education
is only given in private schools which are attended by children from privileged families alone.
Besides her commitment to the organization, Fauzia Aziz Minallah also works as an author and illustrator of children’s books, one of them titled „Amai’s wish". Not only through her art projects, but also through this story, Minallah makes kids understand that a world based on mutual respect is possible.
Proposed by Katrin Becker
More information about Amai Park visit http://www.funkorchildart.com/AmaiPark.php

'The Multi-coloured Scarf of Peace'

2009-10-16T00:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-12T01:06:00.000-07:00

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

Art Contest 'Young People for Peaceful & Tolerant Society'

2009-09-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Center for Civic Education Pakistan CCEPand the British High Commission organised the Art Contest 2009 ‘Young People for a Peaceful and Tolerant Society’. Fauzia Minallah worked as the Chief Technical Adviser for this project.

Pakistan is going through turbulent times. Growing militancy has worsened the security situation in many parts of the country. As a society we are greatly segregated along class and ideological lines. There is a growing need for greater opportunities of dialogue between different segments of society.

Young people in Pakistan, who constitute a major chunk of the population rarely get an opportunity to express themselves. This project involved students from diverse back grounds and social strata, even from Madrassahs, to work on art based projects (calligraphy and painting) that offered them a platform to share their ideas and vision. Facilitated by the Center for Civic Education Pakistan CCEP, this project was organized in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Quetta, and Mirpur (AJK). Each workshop was for three days and had an average of 50 – 90 young participants, from 4 – 6 different educational institutions in each project city, along with one teacher from each institution.

A three-day workshop in each city was held in the months of February - March 2009. In each workshop we had 4 – 5 renowned artists from the city as resource persons. Ustad Khurshid Alam Gauhar Qalam, the award winning calligraphist and teacher at the NCA, Lahore, designed the calligraphy manual and provided all the material for the calligraphic work. Khurshid Alam Gauhar Qalam was the resource calligraphist in Lahore while he designated his student and assistant Hafiz Saeed to travel to 5 cities as the resource person.

On the first day each workshop began with an inspirational lecture by an eminent scholar on ‘Peace and Tolerance’, followed by a 30 minutes presentation by each resource artist on their work. Each artist talked about their work.

Each presentation was viewed with great interest by the students, whether it was the depiction of natural beauty by veteran artist Ghulam Rasul, thought provoking political imagery of Rahat Saeed, the intricate water colours by Ghalib Baqir, Tayyaba Aziz and Dr. Ghulam Shabbier, Kaleem Khan’s beautiful landscapes of Balochistan and figurative work of Usman Ghauri. Since, we had some Madrassah students too, it was very important that the images were not too explicit for them. At the end of the first day, students were given an assignment to bring thumbnail sketches about their ideas.

Although this workshop was not designed for art students, there were students from the Home Economics College and COMSATS, with some background in arts. However most of the participants had limited exposure while some were painting for the first time. The aim of these workshops was more about expression of ideas, thoughts and feelings and what those paintings told us about the child, rather than judging them. For example, the second prize was awarded to 15 year old Syed Mudassar of Idara Taalim i Islami, for the beautiful message conveyed in his painting, and also considering that coming from a Madrassa he opted for painting rather than calligraphy.

Obtaining great pieces of art was not the main aim for this workshop but rather ensuring that the process was a sensitive human interaction with students some of whom have never painted in their lives before. All the artists participating in this workshop displayed this sensitivity and encouraged the youth to express their feelings in a rich repertoire of images.

Quetta
Location : Iqra University, Quetta

Trainers : Kaleem Khan, Mubarak Shah, Mohd Ayub, Hafiz Saeed

Agha Nasir (Lecture)

Coordinator: Shiza Tareen. Iqra University

Mirpur
Location : University College of Home Economics, Mirpur

Trainers : Hafiz Saeed Ahmed, Ahmed Habib, Adnan Khan,
Fareeha Nazneen

Surayya Abbas (lecture)

Coordinator: Rafia Khanum, Dean Faculty of Home Economics. AJK University, Mirpur

Peshawar
Trainers : Jehanzeb Malik, Tayyeba Aziz, Dr. Ghulam Shabbir,
Abbas Ali, Hafiz Saeed Ahmed
Dr Nazir Tabassum (Lecture)

Coordinator: Farmanullah Anjum.
Director, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Peshawar

Islamabad
Location: Preston University, Islamabad

Trainers: Ghulam Rasul, Rahat Saeed, Hafiz Saeed Ahmed, Ahmed Habib, Saima Ali

Kishwar Naheed (lecture)

Coordinator: Murtaza Noor ( HEC)

Karachi
Location: Preston University, Karachi.

Trainers :Ghalib Baqar, Asmaa Hashmi, Usman Ghauri, Syeda Habib, Hafiz Saeed
Zafarullah Khan (Lecture)

Coordinator: Nisho Siddiqui, Deputy Registrar, Preston University, Karachi

Lahore
Location: University of Punjab (I E R), Lahore .

Trainers: Khurshid Alam Gauhar Qalam, Hafiz Saeed Ahmed, Sameeha Qadeer
Abdul Rauf (Lecture)

Coordinator: Dr. Shahida Manzoor. University College of Art and Design, University of Punjab

Calligraphy

Shazia Aslam
University College of Home Economics, Mirpur

Islam, indeed a religion of peace and prosperity has inspired me to opt for Calligraphy.
My inspiration of koofic art is since childhood. And today also my work is depicting my inspiration. I believe in Islam and Allah is great. .I want to further continue my effort in the field of calligraphy.

Tayyaba Nazir Awan
Department of Architecture and Design
COMSATS, Institute of Information Technology

Sadaf Farooq
Government Degree College, Mirpur

The verse I have chosen is ‘Allah is Omni present’ Allah has created this universe, and created this earth, sky, moon, stars. Allah has blessed us with countless blessings and gave us Intellect , unfortunately we are not grateful to Allah.

Adil Hussain Jamia Rizwiya al Uloom

I have chosen the Quranic ayah ‘The one who saves one human, saves the whole of humanity’.
Mohd Saeed Shaukat
Dar-ul-uloom Naeemia Karachi

My painting gives the message of peace and satisfaction. The leaf on the line of cease fire indicates the peace and development of friendly relation between the two countries, and the two flags of the two countries are joined together, this is a proof of a peaceful dialogue.
Tuba Rani
University College of Home Economics, Mirpur

The theme of my painting is ‘love and tolerance’. In my painting I have shown two birds, sitting on a wall. It is evening and both the birds are in a state of harmony. One bird is giving a gift to the other. This is how we can spread love and this is how there will be peace.
Syed Muddassar
Idara -e- Taleemaat –e – Islamia, Islamabad

My painting is based on the poetry of the famous Sufi poet Rehman Baba:
Not for a single moment, am I indifferent to you!
Not indifferent to your invocation and reflection!
Whatever shrine I go to, I have you in mind!
I am not interested in any pilgrimage to mosque or temple!

Adnan Khan, Government College, Peshawar

A church, a mosque and a tree shaped like a globe reflects my desire for a dialogue between the ‘West’ and the ‘East’.People from different religions are shown in the foreground.

Sulman Khan Swati.
Islamia College University, Peshawar

“In my painting I have shown a blue sky. For me a blue sky is a symbol of peace because I think that the peace of the sky is never shattered, I have shown a world in the sky. The symbol of a mosque represents the East while a Church stands for the West. There is a lot of tension between East and West these days. Islam and Christianity are the largest religions of the world which is why I have depicted them. I have painted a Christmas tree and no one is fighting in my painting because they live in the sky”.

Mohd Abdullah Abbassi
Dar-ul-uloom Naeemia Karachi

I have shown the footwear of worshippers outside a mosque. Everyone has to leave their shoes outside, and whether it is the rich or the poor, everyone is equal inside a mosque. For me ‘equality’ of human beings is the meaning of peace.
Aleem
Karachi University

In this chaotic world, peace and tolerance can be promoted with the light of hope and strength. The minerat symbolizes that Islam is the religion of peace and tranquility and the ray represents harmony in today’s world where there’s no tolerance. If we can understand our religion properly we can achieve peace and tolerance. Textural effects have been used to depict, tension, chaos and lack of harmony and the particles or the dot effect is used to distinguish, hope and strength through religion. Dark shades and tints are used to enhance the background tones.

Faryal Abdullah.

College of Home Economics, Lahore.

My painting’s main object is a baby in a womb. Any living thing is more secure in a womb. The dark background shows sorrow and violence in the world. Light colors show happiness.

Maryam Hossain
College of Home Economics , Karachi

A bubble reflects the peaceful life of a society. It is sensitive, delicate and beautiful. It flows with smooth wind and breeze. Just a little gesture may shatter it forever.
It also reminds me of my infant life which was peaceful, unharmed and filled with example of tolerance. “The barren tree is blossoming with the bubbles of life and this message is flowing throughout the universe. We do not enclose peace but let it breathe and fly.

Midhat un Nisa
Department of Architecture and Design
COMSATS, Institute of Information Technology

My painting is based on the Quranic ayat ‘ Hold Allah’s rope firmly, and do not divide into factions’. It reflects my feelings for a united Pakistan. A Pakistan, where people of all religions and ideologies are united for the sake of a stronger Pakistan.

Zaib- un- nissa.College of Home Economics, Peshawar

I have shown in my painting a Pakistan where there is peace children are busy playing without any fear. I have shown a Pakistani family under a big Pakistani flag. It depicts that under the shadow of our flag we stand united and no one will divide us.

Mohd Shehzad Raza Dar-ul-Aloom Naeemia, Karachi

The message that I am basically trying to put across is that violence and intolerance prevailing in our society has scarred the social lattice we live in. In the painting, my basic inspiration is the honeycomb and I’ve tried to relate this to the life of an individual in this world. In my work I’ve expressed that if such tiny insects can live harmoniously within a single community, with their different statuses and workloads divided, why cant we?

There are stars visible during the day, the world basks in the potential the universe has to offer and yet a solitary figure remains detached and disillusioned. The question is-how quickly can we bring back the lost peace and tranquility to our world, before it inflicts permanent, irreversible damage?

Neha Ansari
Department of Architecture and Design
COMSATS, Institute of Information Technology

In my painting I wanted to show a city where there is peace. In this painting I have shown the unity between our different ethnic groups in Baluchistan i.e Baluchi, Pathan, Punjabi, Sindhi and Hazara, living together with peace and tolerance.

Umaira Ishaque
Govt Girls College Quetta Cantt

In my painting I tried to show ‘Peace’ by highlighting the beautiful aspect of my Baluchi culture. I have painted the Baluchi musical instruments ‘damboora’ and ‘suruz’. I want the music of these instruments to live forever.
Amir Gichki.
Iqra University. Quetta.

The theme of my painting is peace and tolerance. There is moon, Gautama Buddha and the Buddha tree; they all are symbols of peace.
Buddha is sitting under a tree, a prince who ran away from the world to attain and feel peace. He is tolerant. He is bearing hardship. He is fasting, is thirsty but peace is best food for his soul. I have learnt tolerance from him. As he is sitting under the tree and the days are passing he is moving towards peace, more and more peac, day by day and that peace is represented by moon in my painting.

Rafia Maroof
AJK University, Mirpur Campus

A mothers lap is the best place for peace. Where we forget our all sorrows and worries. A Mother is also a symbol for our home land……
Mother…..!
You are close to God
Though I’m a little sad
Yet the force of your love
Gathering prayers and blessings
Brings me prosperity and peace.

Sadia Tanvir
M.T.E (PU)

I feel now we need ‘peace’ more than ever before, especially for those Kashmiris who live in Pakistan and India. This is how I have expressed my feelings.

Sonia Fazal
Government Girls College Mirpur

I have really enjoyed this workshop because it brought ( Deeni ) religious and (Dunyawi) regular colleges at the same platform and promoted the message of ‘peace’ and ‘tolerance’ there should be many more workshops like these so that the coming generation should be aware of the beautiful colors of the world. I have painted the name of Allah the great.

Hammad Abbassi
Dar-ul-uloom Muhammadia Ghosia

For more information visit
http://www.civiceducation.org/Paintingsexh.php

Zimmedar Shehri Protests Against the Removal of Old Trees

2009-09-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

Zimmedar Shehri, Islamabad's chapter organised a protest against the removal of over 40 years old Pine trees at Zero point. Although the CDA is replanting them, but it is still an experiment and it is not certain that they will survive after relocation.

These particular trees are very old and mature and their roots are very deep, relocating them would certainly damage these trees. They have been a significant landmark of Islamabad, ZS demanded that the remaining Pine trees should not be removed. This road has already been widened and a number of old Pine trees have been lost, there is no urgent need of widening the road any further, they demanded.

As reported in a daily newspaper, relocating trees is a difficult feat and a highly skilled operation that requires trained staff and proper equipment. Relocating these mature trees will permenantly damage the root system and cause irreplaceable damage. We should not lose any more mature trees as they are the environmental assets of this city. ZS demanded that all the developmental projects must give top priority to saving mature trees. Existing mature trees should be given top priority from the early stages of Islamabad’s development project, sadly so far the Capital Development Authority has been very callous about saving old trees, only a few were saved only when the citizens had protested.

There are a number of old trees along the Margallah Hills which are at risk of destruction when the highway will be built at the foothills. ZS demanded that we already have enough roads in Islamabad but what we dont have is a public transport system. The young members of ZS demanded that before starting any new project of roads the CDA should concentrate on providing an affordable public transport system and bring us at par with the developed countries, and stop wasting money on any new roads. Most of all these mature trees marked with red paint should be saved and not relocated as it ill damage them forever.

Ali Faateh and Imaan Hazir led the young activists of ZS and they were supported by civil society members Tahira Abdullah, Ghazala Minallah. Thanks to Tahira Abdullah representatives of Human Rights Commission Asif, Rafi and Muneer also participated. It is about time enviroment is considered a basic human right, what is more important for humans than the right to cleaner air and water.

Well done!! Zimmedar Shehri, hope you all have a bright future.

Photos by Dawar Aziz copyright Fauzia Minallah

Dance Performance by the students of Indu Mitha

2009-08-26T02:15:00.000-07:00

Indu Mitha is my inspiration for my work on slate stone, I love engraving classical dance poses on stone. Her energy is boundless, in her late 80's it is amazing how she is still keeping the beautiful artform, classical dance, alive in Pakistan. Recently. The German embassy organised a dance performance of her students. The performance by these young students was magical, I hope they keep this beautiful art form alive!!

Images copyright Fauzia Minallah

Amai - A tribute to mothers

2009-08-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

Ladybird's beautiful world in Nathiagali

2009-08-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

Photographs copyright Fauzia Minallah

Work with Children from Minorities

2009-08-04T23:54:00.000-07:00

Christmas presents for children of G-7/1 Shanti town
We distributed 'Amai and Sadako's gifts' among 130 children of Katchi abadi in G- 7 Islamabad. To celebrate Christmas. 69 presents were distributed in the All Churches Fellowship G 7/1 23rd December 2010.30 were distributed in the Methodist Church in G 7/1

All Churches Fellowship

Christmas presents for children of F-7 Shanti town
We distributed 'Amai and Sadako's gifts' among 100 children of French colony, Katchi abadi in F- 7 Islamabad. Thanks to the Asian Network of Trust Hiroshima we were able to give these gifts on the occasion of Christmas. Shahbaz Masih welcomed us and children sand christmas songs and prayed for a peaceful Pakistan. They were feeling very insecure as a few churches also recieved threats from terrorists. Thank god Christmas passed in peace.

Photos and Text by Nosheen Malik

Candle Light Vigil for Victims of Gojra Carnage Arshad Bhatti & Fozia Tanveer held a candle light vigil for the victims of victims of communal vilence in Gojra.

Tahira Abdullah, on behalf of the civil rights activists demanded for the repeal of the Blasphamy Law which has been used as a licence to kill the marginalised minorities by the extremists.

Arieb Azhar sang a Sufi song of ' Tolerance and Love'.

Activities at Amai Park for visually impaired children

2009-07-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Eid Party organised by Students of Beaconhouse School System, Banigala

Beaconhouse students distributing gifts

Eid Party organised by Students of Beaconhouse School System, Banigala
The deputy head of society community society of Beacon house school systems, Banigala, Babar Jan contacted Funkor Child art Center, to do some volunteer work at Amai Park. We organized an ‘Eid Party’ for the children at Amai Park. The Beaconhouse students painted the swings and slides, and cleaned up the Park. Students from NUML also joined in. Beaconhouse students had organized juices and burgers for the children and distribution ‘EID’ gifts. They sang songs and had loads of fun. Thankyou Beaconhouse students, you were all wonderful. Ms. Rubina the Director really appreciated their work and the children were asking if you all will visit again, they really enjoyed themselves!

Beaconhouse girls playing a game with girls from Almaktoom.

Painting the Play station

Singing under the big tree

T-shirts donated by Japanese designer Keico, through Asian Network of Trust Hiroshima. Renovations at Amai Park

COMMENTS BY STUDENTS OF BEACONHOUSE

SENIOR HM MAM RIFAT...

i am proud of u all,, i hope that you continue working for such organisation.
syed babar jan

it was one of da best event ever arranged ,,, v all enjoyed alot and all the students dre vre gr8,, i guess even better than us,, all the students were soo entertainin that v felt that as if its was our own skool,,i hope v get permission to come dre again and make few more memorable moments wid them.
laiba tahir,

it was a very lovely experience. i wish to visit this place again.
nominah ejaz.

this place really rocks.we had gr8 time and hope to see them again
atia.

it was a gr8 pleasure to meet these children.
ishaq.

i enjoyed this activity.all the children dre vr gr8.i wish our cummunity society arranges this event again.so that i can get a chance to come dre again.
sharafuddin ali zada,

i was very pleased by visitin the centre, i think it was the only event which i enjoyed alot.
zarak hyat khan,

the people at al-makhtoom centre have made a very inspiring and encouraging effort to improve the lives of visually disabled children.the event was a truly moving experience.
asad jan khattak,

the people at al-maktoo have made an incredible contribution to society with thier ceaseless hard work.keep up the gud work!
mashal shaukat,

i loved the kids!and thier stories really touched me deeply.:)
murtaza zaidi,

i really wish i was part of the group that wenrt to al-maktoom,from all i have heard, i can deduce that my fellow beaconites did a gr8 job dre and enjoyed alot.the pictures i saw on the facebook and hre on this blog too touched my heart.it was good to see the smiles on the innocent faces of these children. this was wonderful work done by the cummunity services society and i hope they keep it up!

Paper- making workshop with Tajima Shinji at Almaktoom.

Tajima Shinji is a well known children's writer from Japan. He worked as advisor of the Literacy Commission in 2000 and has worked for several years for UNESCO. He was responsible for promoting hand-made paper in Pakistan. While visiting Islamabad Funkor Childart Center organised a paper making workshop for blind children at Almaktoom Center for the Visually Impaired.

Mural Painting with children of Kutchehry School for Street Children

2009-07-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lawyer Humaira Masihuddin started an informal school for street children in Kutchehry ( lawyers' chambers) in Islamabad. At the end of the term, Humaira organised a party for them. Everything was arranged by Saleha Zahid, Fatima Zahid and Fatima Quadri. There were brownies and candies. Party hats and face painting. Funkor Childart Center organised mural painting which was really enjoyed by the older children.