Charity bazaar: Child rights highlighted through fun-filled activities
The event also offered learning, fun activities for kids, and food, shopping for parents.
Various products and activities were on offer at the event. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
With an aim to create awareness about child protection, a charity event was held in the capital on Sunday, that was attended by a number of people and families.
It seemed that not just the weather, but also the success of the Saahil Winter Bazaar have worked out perfectly for organiser Nilofer Afridi Qazi. As a close associate of Saahil, Qazi decided to take a chance and spread the word about the initiative through a fun-filled activity.
The idea which struck Qazi’s mind three weeks ago turned into an event that left people craving for more. “The moment I thought of this event, I gathered my family and friends to come together and spread the word for a cause,” she said.
A total of 39 stalls filled the lawns of Majlis Restaurant in Sector F-6. Various products and services on display were made either by small-scale or home-based businesses from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and the Gilgit-Baltistan. Products ranging from jewellery, to candles, handicrafts, beauty products, home accessories and clothes were being sold for the charitable cause.
Aura skin care products from Lahore, crockery by Clayworks, Rosy’s clothing line from Karachi, Maharaja Handicrafts, Maliha’s farm fresh edible items, food by Tiramisu, Asma Rashid’s wedding décor, Candles by Candlicious, Gift boxes by Fabulicious, salt lamps, and home accessories by Pak-Turk were on offer.
In addition, a projector screen showcasing short animated messages regarding child protection was placed right in the centre of the lawn at the Sahil stall. The organisers were handing out literature related to the cause to parents as well as children.
The animated characters grasped the attention of any child passing by who would stop to watch various messages of abuse, abduction and other matters related to child protection and educate themselves.
Calling the event as success, Munizeh Bano, executive director of Sahil, seemed satisfied with the turnout. “The fact that people came and received information, even in passing, serves the purpose,” she said. “The information is disseminated in some way or the other and the support eventually follows,” she added.
The alley which led to the backside of the bazaar was allocated for children’s activity. A small space set up with a rug, floor cushions and books was a cozy slot where the quieter children were seen lost in their books while the energetic ones filled the other half of the space that was for activities such as board games and face painting.
“We want children to crave knowledge and education,” she said. “Learning is not fun here [in the Pakistani education system], it’s a chore,” said special education teacher, Lubna Hayauddin, who was in charge of the kids learning corner.
Puzzles to enhance motor skills, maps to teach geography, and a math-wiz teaching math tricks in a fun way were just some of the activities. “We want kids to enhance their learning skills and through fun activities and the chances of them remembering what they learn today are much higher than what they might learn otherwise,” she said.
Stepping out of the venue, Neelum Toru from the KP women commission said, “Such events are a good platform for businesses such as handicrafts and other artisans to display their work. Children with an inquisitive nature would ask about these products and learn about their own culture and art, which is a very essential part of learning. Saima Ali who had come with her children said that it was a great idea to conduct an event where children got an opportunity to not just have a good time, but also learn something. She said that such events should be held more frequently in the city to promote such causes.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2013.
With an aim to create awareness about child protection, a charity event was held in the capital on Sunday, that was attended by a number of people and families.
It seemed that not just the weather, but also the success of the Saahil Winter Bazaar have worked out perfectly for organiser Nilofer Afridi Qazi. As a close associate of Saahil, Qazi decided to take a chance and spread the word about the initiative through a fun-filled activity.
The idea which struck Qazi’s mind three weeks ago turned into an event that left people craving for more. “The moment I thought of this event, I gathered my family and friends to come together and spread the word for a cause,” she said.
A total of 39 stalls filled the lawns of Majlis Restaurant in Sector F-6. Various products and services on display were made either by small-scale or home-based businesses from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and the Gilgit-Baltistan. Products ranging from jewellery, to candles, handicrafts, beauty products, home accessories and clothes were being sold for the charitable cause.
Aura skin care products from Lahore, crockery by Clayworks, Rosy’s clothing line from Karachi, Maharaja Handicrafts, Maliha’s farm fresh edible items, food by Tiramisu, Asma Rashid’s wedding décor, Candles by Candlicious, Gift boxes by Fabulicious, salt lamps, and home accessories by Pak-Turk were on offer.
In addition, a projector screen showcasing short animated messages regarding child protection was placed right in the centre of the lawn at the Sahil stall. The organisers were handing out literature related to the cause to parents as well as children.
The animated characters grasped the attention of any child passing by who would stop to watch various messages of abuse, abduction and other matters related to child protection and educate themselves.
Calling the event as success, Munizeh Bano, executive director of Sahil, seemed satisfied with the turnout. “The fact that people came and received information, even in passing, serves the purpose,” she said. “The information is disseminated in some way or the other and the support eventually follows,” she added.
The alley which led to the backside of the bazaar was allocated for children’s activity. A small space set up with a rug, floor cushions and books was a cozy slot where the quieter children were seen lost in their books while the energetic ones filled the other half of the space that was for activities such as board games and face painting.
“We want children to crave knowledge and education,” she said. “Learning is not fun here [in the Pakistani education system], it’s a chore,” said special education teacher, Lubna Hayauddin, who was in charge of the kids learning corner.
Puzzles to enhance motor skills, maps to teach geography, and a math-wiz teaching math tricks in a fun way were just some of the activities. “We want kids to enhance their learning skills and through fun activities and the chances of them remembering what they learn today are much higher than what they might learn otherwise,” she said.
Stepping out of the venue, Neelum Toru from the KP women commission said, “Such events are a good platform for businesses such as handicrafts and other artisans to display their work. Children with an inquisitive nature would ask about these products and learn about their own culture and art, which is a very essential part of learning. Saima Ali who had come with her children said that it was a great idea to conduct an event where children got an opportunity to not just have a good time, but also learn something. She said that such events should be held more frequently in the city to promote such causes.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2013.