TEDx: Imaginations run loose at an event aimed to inspire children
150 children from poor backgrounds attended the event.
ISLAMABAD:
An all-children TEDx event held here on Saturday aimed to stimulate, entertain and educate children from katchi abadis through non-conventional and creative teaching methods.
The event, organised by the Pehli Kiran School System, also set the record for the first all-children audience for a TEDx talk in the country. About 150 students from all seven Pehli Kiran (PK) schools enjoyed a healthy dose of educational entertainment.
The children got their creative juices flowing with the third to fifth-grade students divided into three activity groups: dance, music and drama. Supporting the overarching theme of the event, “Aao Bacho Sair Karein”’ (Let’s go on a trip children), the little artists painted images of the trips they would like to take.
Mansab enthusiastically announced that he was going to paint a zoo. JAQ Education Trust Communication Specialist Madeeha Ansari, one of the organisers, said, “The idea is to bring inspiration to where these children live and at the same time, take them on a tour with their imaginations.”
The children scrambled together excitedly as artist Fauzia Minallah took the stage along with her fictional character Amai. Already familiar with Amai, the children thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling and the puppet she had brought along. Amai is Baloch for mother and symbolises a bird of light to transport children to any place in the world.
Minallah had also brought an accompanying animation clip of Amai travelling the world to jungles, rivers and mountains. As an interactive tool, she asked children to name the various places and things they had spotted in the video and gave a book to those who could recall the most. Mahwish, a physically disabled student, seemed very pleased with her prize.
Alternative educationalist Nadine Murtaza showcased the power of learning through storytelling. Unconventionally dressed in a lehenga, a long skirt worn in the sub-continent, she explained that her grandmother used to wear the dress and tell great stories, which is why she was wearing it too.
Murtaza delivered a history lecture using the persona of her grandmother by narrating the story of her grandmother during the partition of the subcontinent.
Soofia Asad of White Rice enthralled children by introducing the novel concept of creating animation and motion by making graphics for an Urdu poem that she had written.
Despite having difficulties with the projector, the children were entertained watching Asad’s animation on a small computer screen.
Asad told The Express Tribune, “Though I have shown these children a new aspect of animation, the chances that these children will even have computers in the near future are slim, so we have to keep in mind that this is just educational entertainment.”
To make the technique more relevant to the children, she showed them how to make a flip book.
Institute for the Preservation of Art and Culture Chief Executive Officer Umair Jafar had brought instruments and musicians with him to showcase music from all four provinces, which got some of the kids dancing to the beat.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2012.
An all-children TEDx event held here on Saturday aimed to stimulate, entertain and educate children from katchi abadis through non-conventional and creative teaching methods.
The event, organised by the Pehli Kiran School System, also set the record for the first all-children audience for a TEDx talk in the country. About 150 students from all seven Pehli Kiran (PK) schools enjoyed a healthy dose of educational entertainment.
The children got their creative juices flowing with the third to fifth-grade students divided into three activity groups: dance, music and drama. Supporting the overarching theme of the event, “Aao Bacho Sair Karein”’ (Let’s go on a trip children), the little artists painted images of the trips they would like to take.
Mansab enthusiastically announced that he was going to paint a zoo. JAQ Education Trust Communication Specialist Madeeha Ansari, one of the organisers, said, “The idea is to bring inspiration to where these children live and at the same time, take them on a tour with their imaginations.”
The children scrambled together excitedly as artist Fauzia Minallah took the stage along with her fictional character Amai. Already familiar with Amai, the children thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling and the puppet she had brought along. Amai is Baloch for mother and symbolises a bird of light to transport children to any place in the world.
Minallah had also brought an accompanying animation clip of Amai travelling the world to jungles, rivers and mountains. As an interactive tool, she asked children to name the various places and things they had spotted in the video and gave a book to those who could recall the most. Mahwish, a physically disabled student, seemed very pleased with her prize.
Alternative educationalist Nadine Murtaza showcased the power of learning through storytelling. Unconventionally dressed in a lehenga, a long skirt worn in the sub-continent, she explained that her grandmother used to wear the dress and tell great stories, which is why she was wearing it too.
Murtaza delivered a history lecture using the persona of her grandmother by narrating the story of her grandmother during the partition of the subcontinent.
Soofia Asad of White Rice enthralled children by introducing the novel concept of creating animation and motion by making graphics for an Urdu poem that she had written.
Despite having difficulties with the projector, the children were entertained watching Asad’s animation on a small computer screen.
Asad told The Express Tribune, “Though I have shown these children a new aspect of animation, the chances that these children will even have computers in the near future are slim, so we have to keep in mind that this is just educational entertainment.”
To make the technique more relevant to the children, she showed them how to make a flip book.
Institute for the Preservation of Art and Culture Chief Executive Officer Umair Jafar had brought instruments and musicians with him to showcase music from all four provinces, which got some of the kids dancing to the beat.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2012.