Talent brigade: Where there is still hope
Students from slum areas attended the National Youth Conference 2011 organised by Plan Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD:
The slum areas of Pakistan are brimming with young talented minds, but poverty bars them from gaining exposure and recognition.
This was demonstrated at the National Youth Conference 2011 organised by Plan Pakistan on Tuesday. Students from slum areas of Vehari, Chakwal and Islamabad along with representatives of national and international child rights organisations attended the event.
On the occasion, students highlighted the problems of their areas in speech, photography, drama and documentary competitions that were produced and directed by them.
The documentaries were well-thought-out and managed to grasp the attention of the audience. One was based on the health problems people faced in a slum in the suburbs of Chakwal. It revolved around a young man who received a bullet in one of his legs while attending a wedding ceremony and due to lack of health facilities, did not get treatment on time.
Subsequently, he was taken to a hospital in Islamabad but the delay in treatment led to amputation of his leg. After the incident, however, he did not lose hope and continued to make efforts to earn his livelihood respectively.
The other documentary titled, ‘My Life is a Candle’ depicted the plight of girls in slum areas who are restricted from getting an education due to poverty. However, the hope of a bright future still exists in their hearts. The documentary also highlighted that girls can only choose between becoming a teacher or a lady health worker in far flung areas.
‘Chains of Death’ was another documentary which highlighted the issue of young people in slum areas indulging in drugs.
Asad Ali, 20, a student from a village called Sumbal near Chakwal won first price in a debate competition in which he proved that despite being deprived of basic necessitates, he was well aware of the current situation of the country.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Shazia Parveen and Sobia Liaqaut from a village in Vehari, said there are many girls in their areas who want to go to school but are deprived of the opportunity.
“There are a few schools in far flung areas but children cannot attend them because of lack of transport,” said Parveen.
Therefore, instead of going to schools, they are forced to work in fields. Shehla Naz from Chakwal said, “There are only primary and middle schools in the area, so girls cannot get higher education as their parents do not allow them to go to other cities.”
Haider Yaqub, Country Director Plan Pakistan, said currently there are three main issues in slum areas: education, housing rights and livelihood.
“When children from slum areas go to schools they have to face a lot of status difference which results in an inferiority complex,” he said.
Besides this, children from the Christian community do not get job opportunities except cleaning and sweeping.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.
The slum areas of Pakistan are brimming with young talented minds, but poverty bars them from gaining exposure and recognition.
This was demonstrated at the National Youth Conference 2011 organised by Plan Pakistan on Tuesday. Students from slum areas of Vehari, Chakwal and Islamabad along with representatives of national and international child rights organisations attended the event.
On the occasion, students highlighted the problems of their areas in speech, photography, drama and documentary competitions that were produced and directed by them.
The documentaries were well-thought-out and managed to grasp the attention of the audience. One was based on the health problems people faced in a slum in the suburbs of Chakwal. It revolved around a young man who received a bullet in one of his legs while attending a wedding ceremony and due to lack of health facilities, did not get treatment on time.
Subsequently, he was taken to a hospital in Islamabad but the delay in treatment led to amputation of his leg. After the incident, however, he did not lose hope and continued to make efforts to earn his livelihood respectively.
The other documentary titled, ‘My Life is a Candle’ depicted the plight of girls in slum areas who are restricted from getting an education due to poverty. However, the hope of a bright future still exists in their hearts. The documentary also highlighted that girls can only choose between becoming a teacher or a lady health worker in far flung areas.
‘Chains of Death’ was another documentary which highlighted the issue of young people in slum areas indulging in drugs.
Asad Ali, 20, a student from a village called Sumbal near Chakwal won first price in a debate competition in which he proved that despite being deprived of basic necessitates, he was well aware of the current situation of the country.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Shazia Parveen and Sobia Liaqaut from a village in Vehari, said there are many girls in their areas who want to go to school but are deprived of the opportunity.
“There are a few schools in far flung areas but children cannot attend them because of lack of transport,” said Parveen.
Therefore, instead of going to schools, they are forced to work in fields. Shehla Naz from Chakwal said, “There are only primary and middle schools in the area, so girls cannot get higher education as their parents do not allow them to go to other cities.”
Haider Yaqub, Country Director Plan Pakistan, said currently there are three main issues in slum areas: education, housing rights and livelihood.
“When children from slum areas go to schools they have to face a lot of status difference which results in an inferiority complex,” he said.
Besides this, children from the Christian community do not get job opportunities except cleaning and sweeping.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.