Instilling skills in children: Conference seeks to explore ideal age

ISLAMABAD:

How soon shall one start determining and polishing a child’s area of interest that has the potential to evolve into a solid career when they grow up?

That was the question young and budding educationist Jaweria Sethi asked herself before deciding to launch “Leadthon 2015” — a leadership and networking conference at Edopia school. The thee-day conference, which began on Friday, will continue till Sunday (today).

Leadathon is the first of its kind leadership conference geared specifically towards instilling life-worthy skills in young children aged five to 13.

The day started with opening addresses by the Edopia head followed by a series of fun and ice-breaking activities by representatives of the school of leadership.

Speaking to parents, Jaweria said right after passing out from LUMS, she did not want to end up in the corporate world, and desired a mechanism through which kids should be made to effectively realise their actual interests and potentials.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, she said “usually such initiatives are taken for students who have just passed O or A level exams. In my opinion, this process should begin earlier and that’s what I am trying to do here”.

“This event is one of a kind where kids as young as three to 13 years are being helped to enable them to make choices freely. Anyone who becomes a part of my school should not be left stranded after O or A levels” Jaweria explained.

“Since this for the first time we are holding this conference, so I am not sure how it would turn out, it is more of an experiment for now”, she confided.  Around 90 participants from different schools across Islamabad showed up at the opening day.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2015.