Cooperation with Norway: Young folk learn about heritage

“Emphasising the direct exposure of children to authentic sources of folk and cultural materials, [we expect Lok Virsa to] to grow into a formal study on the cultural heritage,” says Lok Virsa’s executive director Khalid Javaid.

Lok Virsa has established Children’s Folklore Societies in schools across the country, with six schools in Sindh during its first stage. The project falls under the joint institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Norway and is being implemented in collaboration with educational departments of the provinces.

Javaid describes each society as a purely promotional, non-profit body to “inculcate awareness among the younger generation about the folklore, local craft, music and cultural heritage of Pakistan”. He says it aims to foster appreciation of Pakistan’s folk and traditional heritage that has been orally transmitted through generations - harnessing culture for education, as their slogan says.

Javaid appreciates the role and contribution of the Royal Norwegian government for generously supporting the project and its cause.

The activities undertaken by Children’s Folklore Societies include interaction of children with folk artists and artisans, informal talks with craft, music, folkloric and cultural personalities, study tours, screening of audio-visual material on cultural heritage and dramatisation of folk tales and folk romances.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.