The students contesting the competition were given topics, ranging from 'Random acts of kindness' to 'Courage', to create their artwork in one-and-a-half-hour. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS
KARACHI: Over 400 students from nine schools participated in an art competition held at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park on Thursday.
“This is not a one-off activity,” said Amin Hashwani, president of the Charter for Compassion Pakistan (CfC). “We have a holistic approach towards education. Art allows people to think, imagine and hope. It’s a game changer.”
The event was organised by CfC and English Biscuit Manufacturers. The students were divided in three groups, according to their class. Each group was given a separate set of topics to choose from.
The students contesting the competition were given topics, ranging from 'Random acts of kindness' to 'Courage', to create their artwork in one-and-a-half-hour. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS
Grades one to three were divided into one group, four to six in another, with the final group comprising students of grades seven to ten. The topics ranged from “Random acts of kindness” to “Courage”, with students using a variety of mediums to create their artwork.
“I think such events are very necessary for the students because this counts as an extra-curricular activity,” said Ayesha Arif, a volunteer at CfC.
Students came from nine different schools across Karachi, including the Dawood Public School, Beaconhouse and Pakistan Navy Special School Karsaz, took part in the creative competition.
The students were allotted one-and-a-half-hour to complete their artwork while volunteers roamed the area to monitor them. Spread out in the grassy field, most of the students were engrossed in their work, using all their art materials to fill in their posters.
During this time, a buoyant emcee went around to the teachers, asking what they felt their students gained from this event. Most replied that the students had learnt to be more compassionate towards not only other human beings, but also towards animals. “The other meaning of education is compassion,” said one teacher.
After the allotted time the students were taken to the other side of the park while judges examined the artwork, pausing to pick up the best ones.
“It’s nice to see such activities, especially in a public place,” said Arshad Faruqi, one of the judges. “This is a positive start for these students, but their imagination is still restricted. Much of their artwork is very similar, and most of them seem to have chosen courage and compassion as a topic. I believe they should be more exposed to art so that their talent can flourish.”
The event emphasised the importance an organisation places on compassion and caring for others. Though it was a competition, all the students were praised for their work and most seemed to take more pleasure in the artwork and the friendly, encouraging environment than in the competition itself.
Three winners were announced from each category - Ashra Adeel from Dawood Public School in the grades one to three category, M Hassam Bhaugat from Jaffar Public School in the grades four to six category and Mohib Zafar from Beaconhouse Jubilee Campus in the grades seven to ten category.
The students of the Navy Special School participated in a separate category, with each student receiving a prize for their participation.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2014.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Dear Aisha;
Can you please correct my daughter's name; which is Ashna instead of Ashra.
Adeel