Encouraging reading: Children’s Literature Festival comes to an end

Over 8,000 children attended the two-day event held at Public School, Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: After two exhilarating days of celebrating literature in Hyderabad, Children's Literature Festival (CLF) was concluded at Public School, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.

Over 4,500 children visited the public school on the first day of the literature festival. The festival was inaugurated by Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), which was supported by the Sindh government's education and literacy department. Hyderabad commissioner Qazi Shahid was the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony.

Education and literacy department director of schools Rasool Bux Shah said that such festivals are a good opportunity for children to learn and to express themselves freely. "Institutions like CLF emphasise the need to continue investing in our children and our future," he said, adding that such festivals should be held in other parts of Sindh as well.

Trustee of ITA and CLF founder Baela Raza Jamil expressed her delight that over 8,000 children attended the two-day festival and thanked the principal of public school, Naseem Ahmed Memon. "It is very encouraging to see all these young faces excited to broaden their knowledge," she said, adding that this was a dream come true that ITA managed to organise these two amazing days in Hyderabad. The two-day festival included storytelling sessions, magic show, a theatre performance by education and literacy department and Public School Hyderabad, panel discussions, a book launch, a workshop on clay work, science experiments and a tribute to Aasu Bai, a social worker who works for educating children in her village.

Bai took part in the festival and shared her life story with the participants. Oxford University Press organised exclusive sessions based on the art of bookmaking and storytelling.

"I found the CLF in Sukkur very impressive too, in which the children participated and responded whole heartedly," said Jamshoro deputy commissioner Munawar Mahesar. The children loved hearing stories and if they are guided properly by their teachers, their love for reading books will definitely increase, he added.

This was the 29th CLF organised in Sindh in the last five years, however, it was the first being held in Hyderabad. "Not only that, it is supported by the education and literacy department and we are extremely pleased with this department," said Rumana Hussain, member of CLF's board of directors.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2016.