Education initiative: Promoting critical thinking among youth

‘The effort is to teach students about other cultures, regions’

LAHORE:

When starting our initiative, we wanted to create something that promoted critical thinking in society, says Sunair Zakir, co-founder of the social enterprise, Raavish.

“The idea behind Raavish is to challenge some of the preconceived notions within society about other cultures and religions to create a narrative that is more peaceful,” he says.

Other founding members of Raavish include Syed Zia Hussain, Syed Khurram Bukhari and Khuzaema Gauhar, who are all LUMS students.



After consulting LUMS teachers, they designed a curriculum with four modules that cover teaching of English grammar besides sessions on  understanding of different cultures through a global exchange programme.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Zakir said that they thought it would be best to work with students from Grade 9 and 10. “These students are at an age where they can understand concepts like difference in perspectives. This is what we are trying to teach them. At the same time, their ingrained notions about religion and righteousness are not yet as rigid as most adults,” he says.

In 2014, the organisation started the project in schools in Hunza, Skardu and Swat, reaching almost 300 students. In Lahore, they are working with four low-fee private schools located in Nishat Colony, reaching almost 120 students. Tauqeer Foundation School is one of the first schools where Raavish started working. Zameerul Hassan, its principal, says his students have enjoyed the interactive activities.

“We usually have a hard time convincing parents to let their children come to school, especially girls. Some parents believe that once their girls learn to read and write they would start writing love letters to boys,” says Hassan.

“With Raavish’s help, the parents of our students were given the opportunity to interact with LUMS students. This showed them that the culture within the college is not bad for their kids,” he says.

Most of the students liked the Global Student Exchange Programme. The team organised the students’ interaction with international students from 10 countries.

Sana Aslam, a student at the Tauqeer Foundation School, says she enjoyed learning about Germany. “I liked the German language. I also liked the way they follow rules in their society,” she says.

Farah Ashiq, another student, said that she particularly liked learning about the Chinese culture. “What I liked most about them was their fascination with the red colour, which symbolises good luck,” she says.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2015.